Preexistent Wisdom as Torah
About This Entry
Ben Sira echoes Proverbs 8 and further develops its themes in his identification of preexistent “wisdom” with the Torah of Moses. According to this passage, it was through the Torah given to Israel that wisdom took up its abode on earth with humankind. See also Torah as Wisdom.
1Wisdom praises herself,
and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.
2In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:
3“I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,
and covered the earth like a mist.
4I dwelt in the highest heavens,
and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
5Alone I compassed the vault of heaven
and traversed the depths of the abyss.
6Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,
and over every people and nation I have held sway.
7Among all these I sought a resting place;
in whose territory should I abide?
8“Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,
and my Creator chose the place for my tent.
He said, ‘Make your dwelling in Jacob,
and in Israel receive your inheritance.’
9Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,
and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.
10In the holy tent I ministered before him,
and so I was established in Zion.
11Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting place,
and in Jerusalem was my domain.
12I took root in an honored people,
in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.” [ . . . ]
23All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God,
the law that Moses commanded us
as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob. [ . . . ]
28The first man did not know wisdom fully,
nor will the last one fathom her.
29For her thoughts are more abundant than the sea,
and her counsel deeper than the great abyss.
Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.
We’re sorry. The Posen Library’s licensing agreements prevent this text from being printed or downloaded.
Credits
New Revised Standard Version Bible copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
You may also like
Life, Old Age, and Death
Ecclesiastes 12:1–8
Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon…
Writing the Truth Plainly
Ecclesiastes 12:9–14
Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly.…
Afterlife of the Righteous
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1–9
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,and no torment will ever touch them.In the eyes of the foolish they seem to have died,and their departure was thought to be a disaster,and…
The Origins of Idolatry
Wisdom of Solomon 14:12–21
For the idea of making idols was the beginning of fornication,
and the invention of them was the corruption of life;
for…
Paul’s Ethical Teachings
1 Corinthians 7–13 (selections)
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is well for a man not to touch a woman.” But because of cases of sexual immorality…
Proverbs in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:1–11; 6:16–7:5
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught…
You may also like
Life, Old Age, and Death
Ecclesiastes 12:1–8
Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon…
Writing the Truth Plainly
Ecclesiastes 12:9–14
Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly.…
Afterlife of the Righteous
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1–9
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,and no torment will ever touch them.In the eyes of the foolish they seem to have died,and their departure was thought to be a disaster,and…
The Origins of Idolatry
Wisdom of Solomon 14:12–21
For the idea of making idols was the beginning of fornication,
and the invention of them was the corruption of life;
for…
Paul’s Ethical Teachings
1 Corinthians 7–13 (selections)
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is well for a man not to touch a woman.” But because of cases of sexual immorality…
Proverbs in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:1–11; 6:16–7:5
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught…