Read & explore together
Faithful childlessness is set against the fruit of wrongdoing
This wisdom passage contrasts the punishment of the ungodly with the honour given to people who remain faithful to the Lord, including people without children. It measures outcomes by righteousness, faithfulness, and God’s examination of souls.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In Wisdom of Solomon 3:10–19, from the Catholic additional books, the writer speaks in wisdom teaching rather than narrative. These verses set neglected righteousness, revolt, and useless works against faithfulness, good labours, God’s gift, inheritance in the Lord’s sanctuary, and the grievous end of an unrighteous generation.
Wisdom of Solomon 3:10–19Main takeaway
This passage teaches that the end of wrongdoing is grievous, while faithfulness to the Lord receives honour and fruit from God.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The ungodly and their empty workThe passage opens with punishment for the ungodly. The reason given is that they neglected righteousness and revolted from the Lord.
Explanation
The passage opens with punishment for the ungodly. The reason given is that they neglected righteousness and revolted from the Lord. It then says that despising wisdom and discipline makes a person miserable. Their hope is called void, their toils unprofitable, and their works useless. The emphasis is on moral failure before the Lord.
02The undefiled barren womanThe writer next contrasts the family linked with ungodliness and the barren woman who is undefiled.
Explanation
The writer next contrasts the family linked with ungodliness and the barren woman who is undefiled. She is called happy because she has not conceived in transgression. The verse does not leave her fruitless forever, because it says she will have fruit when God examines souls. The focus stays on purity and God’s judgment.
03The faithful eunuch receives a giftThe eunuch is also described positively when he has done no lawless deed and has not imagined wicked things against the Lord.
Explanation
The eunuch is also described positively when he has done no lawless deed and has not imagined wicked things against the Lord. For such faithfulness, the passage says a precious gift will be given to him, along with a delightful inheritance in the Lord’s sanctuary. It adds that good labours have fruit of great renown and understanding has a lasting root.
04The grievous end of unrighteous offspringThe final verses return to children of adulterers and unlawful union. The text says they will not come to maturity and will vanish away.
Explanation
The final verses return to children of adulterers and unlawful union. The text says they will not come to maturity and will vanish away. If they live long, they will not be esteemed and their old age will lack honour. If they die young, they have no hope or consolation in the day of judgment. The end of an unrighteous generation is grievous.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What actions make the ungodly liable to punishment in these verses?
Name the causes the passage states directly: neglecting righteousness, revolting from the Lord, and despising wisdom and discipline.
02Why is the barren woman called happy in this passage?
Stay close to the verse’s wording about being undefiled, not conceiving in transgression, and having fruit when God examines souls.
03What does the passage promise to the faithful eunuch?
List the outcomes stated in the text itself: a precious gift, a delightful inheritance in the Lord’s sanctuary, and fruitful good labours.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Wisdom of Solomon 3:10–19
10But the ungodly will be punished even as their reasoning deserves, those who neglected righteousness and revolted from the Lord;
11for he who despises wisdom and discipline is miserable. Their hope is void and their toils unprofitable. Their works are useless.
12Their wives are foolish and their children are wicked.
13Their descendants are cursed. For the barren woman who is undefiled is happy, she who has not conceived in transgression. She will have fruit when God examines souls.
14So is the eunuch which has done no lawless deed with his hands, nor imagined wicked things against the Lord; for a precious gift will be given to him for his faithfulness, and a delightful inheritance in the Lord’s sanctuary.
15For good labors have fruit of great renown. The root of understanding can’t fail.
16But children of adulterers will not come to maturity. The seed of an unlawful union will vanish away.
17For if they live long, they will not be esteemed, and in the end, their old age will be without honor.
18If they die young, they will have no hope, nor consolation in the day of judgment.
19For the end of an unrighteous generation is always grievous.