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Saturday, July 10, 2010

Wisdom of Solomon, chapter 10

10:1 - 21 (Edgar J. Goodspeed translation) part of the historical illustrations
It was She (Wisdom) that protected the first-formed father of the world, in his loneliness, after his creation, and rescued him from his transgression, and gave him strength to master all things. And when an unrighteous man abandoned her in his anger, he (Cain) perished in his fratricidal rage. When the earth was deluged because of him, Wisdom again saved the upright man (Noah), steering him with a cheap piece of wood. It was She that when the nations were confused, in their wicked conspiracy, recognized the upright man (Abraham), and preserved him blameless before God, and kept him steadfast against having pity on his child. When the ungodly were perishing, Wisdom saved an upright man (Lot), who fled from the fire that descended on the Pentapolis (Five Towns); to their wickedness a smoking waste still bears lasting witness, as do trees that bear fruit that never ripens, and a pillar of salt that stands as a memorial of an unbelieving soul. For because they passed Wisdom by, they were not only made incapable of recognizing what was good, but also left behind them to life a memorial of their folly, so that their faults could not pass unnoticed. But Wisdom delivered those who served Her from their troubles. An upright man (Jacob/Israel), who was fugitive from a brother's wrath, she guided in straight paths; she showed him God's kingdom, and gave him knowledge of holy things; she made him prosper in his toils and increased the fruit of his labors; when those who oppressed him were covetous, she stood by him, and made him rich. She protected him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those who lay in wait for him, and decided his hard contest in his favor, so that he should know that godliness is stronger than anything. When an upright man was sold (Joseph), she did not abandon him, but delivered him from sin; she went down into the pit with him, and she did not leave him in prison, until she brought him the scepter of a kingdom, and power over those who lorded it over him; She showed that they were false who had blamed him, and she gave him everlasting honor.
She delivered from a nation of oppressors a holy people and a blameless race; she entered the soul of a servant (Moses) of the Lord, and withstood awe-inspiring kings with portents and signs; she paid to holy men a reward for their toils, she guided them along a wonderful way, and became a shelter for them in the daytime, and a flame of stars at night. She brought them over the Red Sea, and led them through deep waters. But their enemies she overwhelmed, and cast them up from the bottom of the deep. Therefore the upright despoiled the ungodly, and they sang, Lord, of your holy name, and praised with one accord your defending hand. For Wisdom opens the mouth of the dumb, and makes the tongues of babes speak plainly.

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