Book of Wisdom

The Book of Wisdom (or Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom, Book of the Wisdom of Solomon), is a deuterocanonical text included in some versions of the Bible.

Quotes

 * The ungodly ... reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves,...
 * we were born by mere chance,
 * and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been,
 * for the breath in our nostrils is smoke,
 * and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts
 * when it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes,
 * and the spirit will dissolve like empty air.
 * 2:1-3 NRSV


 * The ungodly ... reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves,...
 * Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist,
 * and make use of the creation to the full as in youth.
 * Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes,
 * and let no flower of spring pass us by.
 * Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither.
 * Let none of us fail to share in our revelry;
 * everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment,
 * because this is our portion, and this our lot.
 * Let us oppress the righteous poor man;
 * let us not spare the widow
 * or regard the gray hairs of the aged.
 * But let our might be our law of right,
 * for what is weak proves itself to be useless.
 * 2:6-11 NRSV


 * Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, ...
 * for God created us for incorruption,
 * and made us in the image of his own eternity.
 * 2:21-23 NRSV


 * In the memory of virtue is immortality,
 * because it is known both by God and by mortals.
 * When it is present, people imitate it,
 * and they long for it when it has gone;
 * throughout all time it marches, crowned in triumph.
 * 4:1-2 NRSV


 * What has our arrogance profited us?
 * And what good has our boasted wealth brought us?
 * All those things have vanished like a shadow,
 * and like a rumor that passes by;
 * like a ship that sails through the billowy water,
 * and when it has passed no trace can be found,
 * no track of its keel in the waves.
 * 5:8-10 NRSV


 * Wisdom is radiant and unfading,
 * and she is easily discerned by those who love her,
 * and is found by those who seek her.
 * She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
 * One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
 * for she will be found sitting at the gate.
 * To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding.
 * 6:12-15 NRSV


 * The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction.
 * 6:17 NRSV


 * For those who despise wisdom and instruction are doomed. Vain is their hope, fruitless their labors,  and worthless their works.
 * 3:11 New American Bible Revised Edition

and because of a distressed conscience, always magnifies misfortunes.
 * For wickedness, of its nature cowardly, testifies in its own condemnation,
 * 17:11 New American Bible Revised Edition