The Wisdom of God Works in History
1 Wisdom protected the father of the world, the first man to be formed, who was creat ed alone.
2 She delivered him from his fault and gave him power to govern all things.
3 When a violent man turning in anger strayed from Wisdom, he perished in his fratricidal fury.
4 Because of the violent man, the earth was submerged by the flood, but Wisdom again saved it by piloting an upright man on a frail piece of wood.
5 Again when the nations, united in evil, had been thrown into confusion, it was Wisdom who singled out a righteous man, keeping him blame less before God and steadfast, despite his pity for his child.
6 It was she who, when the godless perished, saved the righteous man and let him flee from the fire pouring down on the Five Cities.
7 To this day the arid land, a smoking waste, witnesses to their perversity, for plants there bear unripe fruit and a pillar of salt stands as a monument to an unbelieving wo man.
8 For having ignored Wisdom, not only were they kept from knowing what is good, but their ruins were left as a monument to their foolishness so that their failure might never be forgotten.
9 But Wisdom rescued her servants from their trials.
10 Along straight paths she led the upright man who fled from his brother’s anger. She showed him God’s kingdom and let him know the holy angels; she made him prosperous and successful in his toil.
11 Wisdom stood by him against the greed of oppressors and made him rich.
12 She protected him from his enemies and saved him from the traps they set for him; with Wisdom he triumphed in an arduous strug gle, learning in this way that nothing is as strong as piety.
13 She did not abandon the righteous man when he was sold; still more she kept him free from sin.
14 She went down into the cistern with him; she did not leave him in chains, but made him the ruler of a kingdom, giving him authority over his oppressors. She denounced as liars those who accused him falsely and gave him everlasting honor.
15 It was she who rescued an innocent and holy people from a nation of oppressors.
16 She entered the soul of God’s servant and through him withstood terrible kings with signs and wonders.
17 To the holy people she gave the wages of their labor, leading them in a wonderful way, giving them shade during the day and the light of the stars at night.
18 She brought them across the Red Sea, but drowned their enemies
19 and later washed them ashore from the depth of the abyss.
20 So the righteous looted the godless, singing hymns, Lord, to your holy Name, and one in heart, they gave thanks for your saving hand.
21 Wisdom gives speech to the dumb and makes infants speak clearly.
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Comments Wisdom, Chapter 10
• 10.1 The Wisdom of God is at work in world history. When an event takes place, we do not usually judge its global value: only time enables us to appreciate it. When we look at the history of a people like the Israelites, we see that God had a plan which developed step by step, even though the people were free and sometimes departed from God. Many elements are involved in the realization of God’s plan: sin, punishment, penance and for-giveness.
She made him prosperous and successful in his toil. This points more directly to Jacob. Divine Wisdom taught their children the works which were to bear fruit and be lasting; she also showed them the thousand ways which waste time. She taught them to live in the now and to discover in the present moment the resources and joys that God wanted to give them.
In spite of the fact that, many times, they did not see beyond the path to be traveled that day, and their daily struggle against their own lies seemed useless, wisdom prepared their paths beforehand. One day they will understand how their labors were joined with the labors of many other brothers and sisters to build the Future City.
In verse 3, the reference is to Cain; in v. 4 to Noah; in v. 5 to Abraham; in v. 6to Lot; in v. 10 to Jacob; in v. 13 to Joseph and in v. 16 to Moses.