Wisdom

19 chapters

Chapter summaries

The Douay-Rheims’ own argument for each chapter. Tap a number above to read.

1. 1Superiors are admonished to do justice, sincerely seeking God. 7. Who being every where seeth all things. 11. Murmuration, detraction, and lying bring to perdition. 13. God created men to live, but they brought death upon themselves.
2. 2Such as hope not of life to come, 6. addict themselves to present pleasures: 10. and persecute the just, especially our Saviour Christ, as contrary to their wickedness. 23. Death came upon man by the devil's envy.
3. 3The just contemned by the wicked, and proved by temptations are happy. 10. and the wicked unhappy. 12. Chastity shall be rewarded, & adulterous generations shall not prosper.
4. 4Great difference between chaste, and adulterous generations. 7. Speedier death of the just is recompensed by God's providence, 19. but the wicked incur greater damnation by living long.
5. 5In the general judgement, the wicked seeing the just, whom they had contemned, to be in great honour, shall bewail their own misery, 9. considering that their pleasure was short, 16. and the joy of the blessed shall be for ever. 18. God will arm himself, and all creatures, to punish the impious.
6. 6Kings and all Magistrates are again admonished to exercise justice: 7. otherwise they shall be more grievously punished. 13. wisdom may easily be found, 18. by those that sincerely desire it. 22. And is very profitable (25. excepting the envious, or ill disposed) 26. both to prince and people.
7. 7Whereas all men have the like birth and death, 7. Wisdom maketh great difference, bringing all goodness, 13. and knowledge, 17. as well of natural things, 22. as moral. 25. Which heavenly gift is a sparkle, and participation of wisdom increated, God himself.
8. 8Wisdom excelling all things, that can be desired, 9. is worthily preferred as the cause of much estimation, 13. and of immortal glory, 16. without molestation. 21. All which is God's gift.
9. 9A prayer (made by Solomon) for wisdom, 9. whereby Superiors are able to govern: 13. Which by only human wisdom, they can not rightly perform.
10. 10The benefits of wisdom are declared by examples, in Adam, 4. Noe, 5. Abraham, 6. Lot, 10. Jacob, 13. Joseph, 15. And the people of Israel.
11. 11Other benefits of wisdom, protecting the Israelites in the desert; 3. overthrowing their enemies; 4. giving them water out of a rock; 8. plaguing the Egyptians, 21. yet not all suddenly, but by often admonitions, that they might have repented if they would.
12. 12God's wisdom and mercy in destroying the wicked inhabitants of Chanaan, by parts (10. that they might have amended,) whom he could have slain suddenly. 15. In that God never condemneth the just, 19. his people are instructed to confide in him, 25. and sinners to turn unto him.
13. 13Men following their fantasies knew not God by his creatures, but honoured the creatures for gods. 10. Most sottishly also worshipped things fashioned by men's hands, as gods.
14. 14Foolish men intending to sail, honour wooden idols, in regard of the profit they receive by ships: 6. by which some were saved in the general deluge. 8. Idols, and idol-makers are cursed. 12. They were not from the beginning, 15. but were devised for memory of the dead, and worshipped with divine honour. 22. So men forgetting God, proceeded in idolatry, with other abominable, and cruel enormities.
15. 15The wise gratefully praise the sweetness, and mercy of God, by whom they are delivered from idolatry: 6. detesting the makers, and worshippers of idols.
16. 16God plaguing the Egyptians for idolatry, and cruelty, delivered the Israelites. 5. Chastised them also, but again shewed them mercy, 20. and fed them with Manna.
17. 17Horrible darkness falling in Egypt. 19. the rest of the world had ordinary light.
18. 18In the Egyptian darkness, the Israelites saw clearly, and were not seen of their enemies. 5. For the Egyptians' cruelty against the Hebrews' infants, all their own firstborn were slain, and their whole army drowned in the red sea. 20. But fire devouring the rebellions in Core's schism, was quenched by Aaron's intercession.
19. 19Egyptians persecuting the Hebrews were drowned, 10. having been plagued before with flies, and frogs. 11. Quails were given to the people of Israel. 13. The barbarous not receiving, or evil entreating God's people, were stricken with blindness. 17. And all creatures serve God in punishing the impious, and rewarding the godly.