The Wisdom of Solomon

⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑

- Chapter 18 -

The slaughter of the firstborn in Egypt: the efficacy of Aaron’s intercession, in the sedition on occasion of Core.

But your saints were your greatest light, and they heard your voice, but did not see your form. And because they themselves did not also suffer the same things, they praised you greatly.

And those who were wounded before, gave thanks, because they were no longer being wounded, and because they had petitioned for this gift, that there would be this difference.

Because of this, they had a burning column of fire as a guide on the unknown way, and you displayed a harmless sun of a good hospitality.(a)

The others, indeed, deserved to be deprived of the light and to endure a prison of darkness, who watched for an opportunity to imprison your sons, by whom the incorruptible light of the law was beginning to be given to future generations.

When they thought to kill the babes of the just, one son having been exposed and set free, to their disgrace, you took away a multitude of their sons and destroyed them all together in a mighty water.(b)

For that night was known beforehand by our fathers, so that, knowing the truth of the oaths in which they had trusted, they might be more peaceful in their souls.(c)

Yet your people received not only the salvation of the just, but also the destruction of the unjust.

For just as you wounded our adversaries, so also did you greatly esteem calling us forth.

For the just children of goodness were secretly offering sacrifice, and in agreement they administered the law of justice, so that both good and bad would be able to receive justice, and so that you might now approve of their chanting to the father.(d)

On the other hand, a dissimilar voice was resounding from the enemies, and a lamentable wailing was heard for the children who were being cried over.

But the same punishment afflicted the servant with the master, and the common man endured the same as the king.

Therefore, all were the same, with one name for death, and the dead were innumerable. For neither were the living sufficient to bury the dead, because, with a single effort, their most illustrious nation was exterminated.(e)

For they would not believe anything because of the drugs; then truly, at the beginning, when the extermination of the firstborn happened, they pledged the people to belong to God.(f)

For, when a quiet silence surrounded all things, and when the course of the night was passing the middle of its journey,

your almighty word from heaven leapt down from your royal throne, as a fierce warrior in the midst of the land of extermination,

as a sharp sword carrying your unfeigned authority, and standing, filled all things with death, and, standing on the earth, reached all the way up to touch heaven.

Then, incessant visions of nightmares disturbed them, and unexpected fears overcame them.

And another was thrown down elsewhere half-alive; and so, by means of that which was dying, the cause of death was revealed.(g)

For the visions that disturbed them had forewarned of these things, lest they should perish and not know why they suffered these evils.

Yet, at that time, the trial of death touched even the just, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness, but your wrath did not continue for long.

For a blameless man, prospering, is to be entreated for your people, bringing forth the shield of your service, through prayer and incense, making prayerful supplication, he withstands anger, and so establishes an end to the necessary difficulty, revealing that he is your servant.(h)

Yet he outlasted the disturbance, not by virtue of the body, nor by force of arms, but, with a word, he subdued those who were troubling him, commemorating the oaths and covenant of the parents.(i)

For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between them and cut off their attack, and he divided those who controlled the path to the living.

For, within the garment of shame which he held, the world was all together, and the great deeds of the parents were engraved on four orders of stones, and your majesty was engraved on the crown of his head.(j)

Yet he who was exterminating yielded even to those he frightened. For one trial of wrath was sufficient.(k)

Footnotes

(a)18:3 A harmless sun:A light that should not hurt or molest them; but that should be an agreeable guest to them.(Challoner)

(b)18:5 One child:Viz., Moses.(Challoner)

(c)18:6 The word animæquiores generally means more patient or more calm. The addition of “i” before “ores” makes the word comparative. But notice that the first part of the word is animae, meaning soul. So, a good translation in a religious context is “more calm in soul” or “more peaceful in soul.”(Conte)

(d)18:9 Of good men:Viz., of the patriarchs. Their children, the Israelites, offered in private the sacrifice of the paschal lamb; and were regulating what they were to do in their journey, when that last and most dreadful plague was coming upon their enemies.(Challoner)

(e)18:12 The noblest offspring:That is, the firstborn.(Challoner)

(f)18:13 This last phrase could also be translated as “they dedicated the people to God.”(Conte)

(g)18:18 The one who is thrown down half-alive is the Antichrist, who tries to raise himself up to heaven, but is thrown down by the Archangel Michael, and later is thrown, still alive, into the fires of hell. The Antichrist is “that which was dying.” But this meaning is for the distant future.(Conte)

(h)18:21 The blameless man prospers because he is God’s servant, and so the people seek his intercession on their behalf.(Conte)

(i)18:22 The meaning of parents here refers more to the parents or ancestors of the Faith, rather than one’s own parents.(Conte)

(j)18:24 Or, on a crown on his head.(Conte)

(k)18:25 He who was tormenting the people yielded, because of God’s intervention, even to those whom he had been tormenting, who were formerly afraid of him.(Conte)