Wisdom
Chapter 4
It is better to have no children and to be virtuous. Such people are highly regarded by both God and mortals. Their memory will never fade.
When virtue exists, we imitate it; when it is absent, we long for it. It is crowned in eternity for triumphing in the blameless struggle.
The many descendants of the wicked will be of no real use. Offspring of doubtful roots, they will lack deep foundations.
They may produce for a time, but their weak branches, shaken by the wind, will be uprooted by the storm.
Their twigs will be broken before they can fully grow, their fruit unripe and useless, good for nothing.
Children born of unlawful acts witness, when God examines them, to their parents’ wrongdoings.
He Matured in a Few Years
The upright, even if they die before their time, will find rest.
Honorable age does not depend on the number of days, nor is the number of years an accurate measure of life.
A man’s gray hair is a sign of understanding, and a spotless life is a sign of a ripe old age.
The upright was pleasing to God, who loved him, and since he was living among sinners, he was taken up.
God removed him lest evil damage his understanding and treachery seduce his soul.
For the fascination of evil clouds true values, and restless desire undermines a simple heart.
Though his life soon ended, he traveled far.
Because his soul was precious to the Lord, he was quickly taken from the wickedness around him.
People saw but did not understand, and it did not occur to them that God’s grace and mercy are with his chosen ones; his protection is for the holy.
The righteous who dies will condemn the ungodly who survives. A life fulfilled early in youth condemns the endless days of the wicked.
They may see the death of the wise, but they will not understand God’s plan for him or why he has been taken to safety.
They may see and mock him, but the Lord will also laugh at them
when they become a useless corpse, a loathsome and dead thing forever. The Lord will crush them to the ground, voiceless, shaking them from their foundations; they will wither and suffer. Even their memory will fade.
Judgment: Confusion of the Wicked
They will come trembling for the reckoning of their sins, and they will be confounded when faced with their wickedness.
Commentaries
Final Judgment.
The wise man and the fool are the two extremes in this first section. The former acknowledges himself as part of God’s plan; the latter, on the other hand, relies solely on his own strength. According to the book of Wisdom, God’s judgment will come relentlessly upon the wicked as punishment. Two thousand years later, this message still holds relevance: those who know God understand they are in his hands, part of his plan, established long ago.
Blessed Is the Barren Woman Who Is Blameless.
The traditional view of the Bible considered children a sign of divine blessing (Gn 17:19f; Job 1:1-5). Conversely, barrenness was regarded as a curse (1 Sm 1:1-3). This new section addresses this topic, although its conclusion differs. It states that lacking children through virtue is not a curse (13-15), while the offspring of illegitimate unions amount to nothing (4:3-6).
On the other hand, it is said that the old age of the wicked is dishonorable (16-19). However, through virtue, one can achieve immortality, even if they die young (4:1f). When a hostile or indifferent environment tests personal or community values, God can reveal Himself through a commitment to life and a world that does not neglect the weakest. Fidelity must include mercy.
He Matured in a Few Years.
Once again, we see a different way of understanding traditional beliefs. In this case, the focus is on the meaning of early death. It was argued that a long life should be the inheritance of the righteous (Dt 4:40; 5:16; Job 5:26; Ps 91:16; Prov 3:2, 16; 4:10; Sir 1:12, 20), while the wicked faced sudden death (Job 15:20-23; 18:5-20; Sir 1:12, 20). According to the book of Wisdom, the premature death of the righteous reflects God’s plan to deliver them from suffering and evil’s corruption, while it underscores the fate of the wicked (cf. Is 14:16-19; 19:10; 66:24). This passage offers the first positive answer in the entire Bible to the question of who dies prematurely, because God provides it.
Judgment: Confusion of the Wicked.
The prophets spoke of “that day…” They were not only referring to the future; it was also a hope already present and a conviction: injustice and suffering do not have the last word in history; God walks with his people.