All wisdom is from the Lord, and with him it remains for ever. The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity—who can count them? The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom—who can search them out? Wisdom was created before all other things, and prudent understanding from eternity. The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed? Her subtleties—who knows them? There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared, seated upon his throne—the Lord. It is he who created her; he saw her and took her measure; he poured her out upon all his works, upon all the living according to his gift; he lavished her upon those who love him.
The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation, and gladness and a crown of rejoicing. The fear of the Lord delights the heart, and gives gladness and joy and long life. Those who fear the Lord will have a happy end; on the day of their death they will be blessed.
To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; she is created with the faithful in the womb. She made among human beings an eternal foundation, and among their descendants she will abide faithfully. To fear the Lord is fullness of wisdom; she inebriates mortals with her fruits; she fills their whole house with desirable goods, and their storehouses with her produce. The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish. She rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension, and she heightened the glory of those who held her fast. To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom, and her branches are long life.
Unjust anger cannot be justified, for anger tips the scale to one’s ruin. Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment, and then cheerfulness comes back to them. They hold back their words until the right moment; then the lips of many tell of their good sense.
In the treasuries of wisdom are wise sayings, but godliness is an abomination to a sinner. If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will lavish her upon you. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline, fidelity and humility are his delight.
Do not disobey the fear of the Lord; do not approach him with a divided mind. Do not be a hypocrite before others, and keep watch over your lips. Do not exalt yourself, or you may fall and bring dishonour upon yourself. The Lord will reveal your secrets and overthrow you before the whole congregation, because you did not come in the fear of the Lord, and your heart was full of deceit.
Commentary
All wisdom is from the Lord and it is his own forever. The beginning of this book, then, speaks of the eternal Wisdom of God which was with the Father before all ages. So also St John’s Gospel which opens thus: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All wisdom is from the Lord because Christ, who is the source of life and the light which illumines every man coming into this world, was born of God the Father; and all things were made through him and without him was made nothing that was made. But whoever lacks the light of this wisdom is walking in the dark, not knowing where he is going because the darkness has dimmed his sight. Whatever opposes this wisdom should be dubbed ‘folly’. So St Paul says, The wisdom of this world is folly with God. And again, To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the wisdom of the flesh is at enmity with God since it is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be.
The sand of the sea and the raindrops and the days of eternity, who can assess them? The height of the sky and the breadth of the earth and the depth of the abyss, who has measured them? Before all other things wisdom was created; who can probe her? Ecclesiasticus draws the comparison between material and spiritual things, so that by reference to what is most difficult in nature such a comparison might be justly assessed -but this is altogether impossible. If nobody can count the sand of the sea or the raindrops or the days of eternity, or measure the height of the sky or the breadth of the earth or the depth of the abyss – and yet these were established by their Creator according to number, measure, and weight – how can anyone probe the wisdom of God which exists without beginning and without end and abides forever, at once indescribable and immeasurable? For the power of God and the wisdom of God – Christ, that is – was always with the Father and, as the Father is without beginning, so is the Son without beginning.
Before all things wisdom was created and shrewd understanding is everlasting. The Fathers understand this text, as well as the one from Proverbs, The Lord created me at the beginning of his ways, as referring to the Lord’s incarnation. Just as the Son in his divine nature was born of the Father before all ages, so before all ages he was predestined in the plan of the Father to become incarnate in time for the salvation of the human race. The word ‘created’ refers to his human not his divine nature, although, because of the unity of person, the Son is sometimes said to be generated, sometimes created. He is therefore the beginning of God’s ways (he himself said, I am the way) who rose from the dead and made a pathway for the Church to the kingdom of God and eternal life.(Bl. Rabanus Maurus)
Musical Selection
Wisdom comes from God and with God it shall remain
Like the sand of the seashore or the drops of the rain
Or the days of eternity
Who can number these, who can explore
Heaven’s height or the depths of the sea
Before all things were created
Wisdom came to be
The beginning of Wisdom is the awesome fear of God
Which is formed in the faithful in their mother’s womb
With devotion from of old
She inebriates with her finest fruit
And fills our house with food
Her garland is the fear of God
Her blossoms peace and good
Collect
Gracious and merciful God, you look with love upon a sinful people and desire only their return to you. We beg of you the grace to live this holy season, to persevere in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. By the discipline of Lent purify our hearts of all pretension, bring us back to you, and make the whole Church ready to celebrate the mysteries of Easter. Grant this through Christ, our liberator from sin, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen.