Catholic Commentary on Wisdom 10

"Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her." (Wisdom 10:9)

Wisdom in Israel's History

Chapter 10 rehearses the history of Israel as the history of Wisdom's intervention: she protected the first-formed father of the world and saved him from his own transgression. When an unrighteous man departed from her in his anger, he perished through his fratricidal rage. When the earth was flooded because of him, wisdom again saved it. She delivered from death the righteous man who fled from his brother's wrath. She brought him across the Jordan and gave him knowledge of holy things. Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her. When a righteous man was sold, wisdom did not desert him, but delivered him from sin. She descended with him into the dungeon, and when he was in prison she did not leave him, until she brought him the sceptre of a kingdom and authority over his masters.

The Catechism identifies Wisdom's presence in Joseph's dungeon as the figure of divine accompaniment in the darkest places: wisdom does not leave the faithful servant in the prison (CCC 301).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, wisdom did not desert the righteous man in the dungeon. She descended with him into prison and did not leave him until she brought him the sceptre of a kingdom. The faithful person's descent into the dungeon is not their abandonment but their formation. Wisdom goes down first and comes up last, having turned the prison into the preparation for the palace.

Prayer

Lord God, your wisdom descended with Joseph into the dungeon and did not leave. Descend with us into our prisons and do not leave until you bring us to the palace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

10
1 She preserved him, that was first formed by God the father of the world, when he was created alone, 2 And she brought him out of his sin, and gave him power to govern all things. 3 But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished by the fury wherewith he murdered his brother. 4 For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it again, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood. 5 Moreover when the nations had conspired together to consent to wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God, and kept him strong against the compassion for his son. 6 She delivered the just man who fled from the wicked that were perishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis: 7 Whose land for a testimony of their wickedness is desolate, and smoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a standing pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul. 8 For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that they were ignorant of good things, but they left also unto men a memorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned, they could not so much as lie hid. 9 But wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her. 10 She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother’s wrath, through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours, and accomplished his labours. 11 In the deceit of them that overreached him, she stood by him, and made him honourable. 12 She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and know that wisdom is mightier than all. 13 She forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him from sinners: she went down with him into the pit. 14 And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory. 15 She delivered the just people, and blameless seed from the nations that oppressed them. 16 She entered into the soul of the servant of God, and stood against dreadful kings in wonders and signs. 17 And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and conducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by day, and for the light of stars by night: 18 And she brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over through a great water. 19 But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of hell she brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the wicked. 20 And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with one accord thy victorious hand. 21 For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of infants eloquent.

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