Blogging the Apocrypha - Wisdom of Solomon 7

Wisdom of Solomon

Lucky number 7! (Yeah, I don't believe in luck.)

Well...nothing quote-worthy in this Chapter, believe it or not! If it were to be named, I would suggest, "Ode to Wisdom."

Methinks this chap (where did this accent come from?) is suffering from self-admiration. The pomposity in this section is thick despite it's feigned humility

Here is what the rest of the Bible says about being wise in your own eyes.

Proverbs 3:7
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
Proverbs 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs 26:16
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
Proverbs 28:11
A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him. Isaiah 5:21
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

Wisdom is not the same as discernment. Wisdom is its own end. Discernment is aid from the Lord - the light to your feet to make choices in keeping with His will.

Do not be fooled!

There is a wonderful a cappella piece by Randall Thompson called "The Peaceable Kingdom." In it is a movement called, "Woe Unto Them." I sang this in HS in the District Music Festival in...oh...1992?

I'll let you listen. (No, not to us - the American Repertory Singers - an Amazon.com link.) There are other Randall Thompson pieces on this CD as well.

This is the whole movement - the one mentioned above is the second piece. I'm not terribly impressed with this recording, however. If you want to listen to my tape recording I'm happy to lend it to you. Great stuff!

I can't find the whole set of lyrics online - here is what I can glean from the recording (which gives me giant goose bumps.)

Lyrics: "Woe Unto Them"* - Randall Thompson (1899-1984)
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity
And sin as it were with a cartrope
Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil
That put darkness for light and light for darkness
And put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter
Woe!
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes
And prudent in their own sight
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine
Turn men of strength to men of strong drink
Woe!
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning
That they may follow strong drink
And continue to night 'til win enflame them
And the harp
And the pipe
The tabyreth
And fife
And wine
Are in their peak
Woe!

*I know I have some of these lyrics wrong, but you get the point!