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Verse 1
Theosis · English Bible
Wisdom

Wisdom 10

Old TestamentTheosis · English Bible

1She preserved the first formed father of the world, that was created alone, and brought him out of his fall, 2and gave him power to rule all things. 3But when the unrighteous went away from her in his anger, he perished also in the fury wherewith he murdered his brother. 4For whose cause the earth being drowned with the flood, wisdom again preserved it, and directed the course of the righteous in a piece of wood of small value. 5Moreover, the nations in their wicked conspiracy being confounded, she found out the righteous, and preserved him blameless unto God, and kept him strong against his tender compassion toward his son. 6When the ungodly perished, she delivered the righteous man, who fled from the fire which fell down upon the five cities. 7Of whose wickedness, even to this day the waste land that smoketh is a testimony, and plants bearing fruit that never come to ripeness: and a standing pillar of salt is a monument of an unbelieving soul. 8For regarding not wisdom, they gat not only this hurt, that they knew not the things which were good; but also left behind them to the world a memorial of their foolishness: so that in the things wherein they offended they could not so much as be hid. 9But wisdom delivered from pain those that attended upon her. 10When the righteous fled from his brother's wrath, she guided him in right paths, shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him knowledge of holy things, made him rich in his travels, and multiplied the fruit of his labours. 11In the covetousness of such as oppressed him she stood by him, and made him rich. 12She defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait, and in a sore conflict she gave him the victory; that he might know that godliness is stronger than all. 13When the righteous was sold, she forsook him not, but delivered him from sin: she went down with him into the pit, 14and left him not in bonds, till she brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: as for them that had accused him, she shewed them to be liars, and gave him perpetual glory. 15She delivered the righteous people and blameless seed from the nation that oppressed them. 16She entered into the soul of the servant of the Lord, and withstood dreadful kings in wonders and signs; 17rendered to the righteous a reward of their labours, guided them in a marvellous way, and was unto them for a cover by day, and a light of stars in the night season; 18brought them through the Red sea, and led them through much water: 19but she drowned their enemies, and cast them up out of the bottom of the deep. 20Therefore the righteous spoiled the ungodly, and praised thy holy name, O Lord, and magnified with one accord thine hand, that fought for them. 21For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of them that cannot speak eloquent.

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Wisdom 10:1

Dimitri of Rostov

Dimitri of Rostov17th century

When Adam was expelled from Paradise, he found himself initially within sight of it. Together with his companion, he wept endlessly, deeply mourning in his heart for the unimaginable blessings of Paradise from which he had been separated, all for a brief indulgence in the forbidden fruit. Though our ancestors, Adam and Eve, sinned against the Lord God and forfeited their original grace, they did not abandon their faith in Him. Instead, they were filled with reverence and love for the Lord, and they held on to the hope of redemption revealed to them. God accepted their repentance, their constant tears, and their self-discipline, which they exhibited in their humility. The Lord looked upon them with compassion, hearkening to their prayers that arose from their contrite hearts, and prepared for them forgiveness in Himself, freeing them from the burden of sin, as clearly expressed in the book of Wisdom: "This (the wisdom of God) of the original father of the world of the one-created saved and led him away from his sin, and gave him strength to keep all things" (Prem. 10:1-2). Some may wonder: if God forgave Adam's transgression and liberated him from it, why did He not restore him to Paradise? God indeed forgave Adam and Eve their sin, recognizing that it was their personal fault, not that of all humanity. He absolved them from culpability, yet they remained subject to punishment, as divine justice necessitated accountability from the wrongdoer. Since Adam and Eve could not, on their own, offer restitution to God for the sin that affected all mankind, they were not permitted to re-enter Paradise until the arrival of the Redeemer, the Son of God, who would satisfy God the Father through His voluntary suffering for the sin of the world and would unlock the gates of Paradise through His crucifixion. Our ancestors, Adam and Eve, kept their hope alive in God's mercy and began to seek ways to serve Him through their repentance. They turned towards the east, the direction of Paradise, prayed to their Creator, and brought offerings to God. These offerings were either from their flocks, symbolizing the sacrifice of the Son of God who was destined to be slain as a lamb for humanity's salvation, or from the produce of the earth, foreshadowing the sacrament of new grace, in which the Son of God would be offered in the form of bread as a pleasing sacrifice to God the Father for the forgiveness of human sins. In this manner, they also taught their children to honor God, to present sacrifices to Him, and to lament the lost blessings of Paradise, encouraging them to seek the salvation promised by God and guiding them in living a life of piety.