Catholic Commentary on Wisdom 9

"Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?" (Wisdom 9:17)

Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom

The prayer attributed to Solomon: O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who have made all things by your word, give me the wisdom that sits by your throne. Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory send her, that she may labour at my side, and that I may learn what is pleasing to you. For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions and guard me with her glory. Then the reflection: who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and people were taught what pleases you, and were saved by wisdom.

The Catechism identifies this prayer as one of the Old Testament texts that most clearly anticipates the Pentecostal sending of the Holy Spirit as the divine Wisdom given to the Church (CCC 702).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, who has learned God's counsel unless he has given wisdom and sent his holy spirit from on high? No human intelligence arrives at divine wisdom by its own effort. The Holy Spirit is the gift that makes the mind capable of receiving what God wants to communicate. Ask for the Spirit. The paths will be set right.

Prayer

Lord God, send your holy spirit from on high so that we may learn your counsel. Set our paths right by the wisdom only you can give. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

9
1 God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word, 2 And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion over the creature that was made by thee, 3 That he should order the world according to equity and justice, and execute justice with an upright heart: 4 Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off from among thy children: 5 For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and laws. 6 For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded. 7 Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters. 8 And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning: 9 And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments. 10 Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thee: 11 For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power. 12 So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father. 13 For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of God is? 14 For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels uncertain. 15 For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things. 16 And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things that are in heaven, who shall search out? 17 And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above: 18 And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee? 19 For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O Lord, from the beginning.

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