Read & explore together
Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift
This passage presents learning as something received from God. The speaker asks for words and thoughts that fit God’s gift, then describes a wide span of knowledge about the world, time, living things, and matters both hidden and visible.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In Wisdom of Solomon 7:15-21, from the Catholic additional books, the speaker addresses God as the one who guides wisdom and corrects the wise. The passage links speech, understanding, practical skill, and knowledge of the world to God’s giving, then traces examples from the universe to seasons, creatures, plants, and hidden or visible things.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:15–21Main takeaway
According to this passage, wisdom and knowledge come from God, who guides the wise and gives understanding of many kinds.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Asking God for worthy speechThe speaker begins by asking God to grant speech that matches God’s judgment and thoughts worthy of what has been given.
Explanation
The speaker begins by asking God to grant speech that matches God’s judgment and thoughts worthy of what has been given. The request shows humility. Wisdom is not treated as independent achievement, because God is the one who “guides even wisdom” and “corrects the wise”.
02In God’s handThe passage then says, “we and our words are in his hand”. Here “in his hand” points to God’s control and care over people and what they say.
Explanation
The passage then says, “we and our words are in his hand”. Here “in his hand” points to God’s control and care over people and what they say. The verse also includes “all understanding and skill in various crafts”, so the passage speaks not only about ideas but also about practical ability.
03From the universe to times and seasonsGod gave the speaker “knowledge of the things that are”. “The operation of the elements” refers to how the basic parts of the world work.
Explanation
God gave the speaker “knowledge of the things that are”. “The operation of the elements” refers to how the basic parts of the world work. The examples then move in order from the universe itself to time: the beginning, middle, and end of times, then the “alternations of the solstices”, meaning recurring turning points in the yearly pattern, along with seasons, years, and stars.
04From living things to secret and manifest mattersThe scope widens again. The speaker names living creatures, wild beasts, winds, human thoughts, plants, and roots.
Explanation
The scope widens again. The speaker names living creatures, wild beasts, winds, human thoughts, plants, and roots. These examples move from the natural world to human life, then verse 21 gathers them all up: knowledge includes things “secret or manifest”, meaning what is hidden as well as what is openly seen.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does the speaker ask God for help before speaking?
Verse 15 connects worthy speech and worthy thoughts with God, who guides wisdom and corrects the wise.
02What does “we and our words are in his hand” add to the passage?
Use verse 16 to notice that both people and their words, along with understanding and skill, are presented as under God’s hand.
03How does the passage expand its picture of knowledge from verse 17 to verse 21?
Follow the order from the universe and the elements, to times and stars, then to creatures, plants, and finally “secret or manifest” things.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Wisdom of Solomon 7:15–21
15But may God grant that I may speak his judgment, and to conceive thoughts worthy of what has been given me; because he is one who guides even wisdom and who corrects the wise.
16For both we and our words are in his hand, with all understanding and skill in various crafts.
17For he himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are, to know the structure of the universe and the operation of the elements;
18the beginning, end, and middle of times; the alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons;
19the circuits of years and the positions of stars;
20the natures of living creatures and the raging of wild beasts; the violence of winds and the thoughts of men; the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots.
21All things that are either secret or manifest I learned,