Read & explore together
The ungodly misread the wise person’s end and face disgrace
This passage warns that ungodly people can look at a wise person’s end and still misunderstand it. It contrasts what they see on the surface with what the Lord has planned and with the judgement that exposes their own deeds.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
These verses are part of Wisdom of Solomon, in the Catholic additional books. Here the speaker describes the ungodly observing a wise man’s end, despising what they see, and then facing disgrace, fear, and conviction because of their own lawless deeds.
Wisdom of Solomon 4:17–20Main takeaway
This passage teaches that people may misread the end of the wise, but the Lord knows the truth and the ungodly will face exposure for their own sins.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01They see the wise man’s end wronglyThe passage begins with the ungodly seeing a wise man’s end, yet failing to understand it.
Explanation
The passage begins with the ungodly seeing a wise man’s end, yet failing to understand it. The verse says they do not understand what the Lord planned for him or why he kept him safe. What they observe is real, but their judgement about it is deeply mistaken because they miss the Lord’s purpose.
02Contempt cannot overturn the Lord’s judgementThe ungodly do not respond with humility. They see and despise. Yet the passage says the Lord will laugh them to scorn.
Explanation
The ungodly do not respond with humility. They see and despise. Yet the passage says the Lord will laugh them to scorn. Their contempt does not control the outcome. Instead, the verse describes their future disgrace in severe terms, showing that their scorn of the wise will not protect them from dishonour.
03The imagery of ruin is severeVerse 19 uses strong judgement language. It says he will dash them speechless to the ground and shake them from the foundations.
Explanation
Verse 19 uses strong judgement language. It says he will dash them speechless to the ground and shake them from the foundations. The result is collapse and waste. The verse also mentions anguish and perishing memory. This is sober, difficult imagery that presents judgement as overwhelming and humiliating.
04Their own deeds stand against themThe final verse explains why fear comes. When their sins are counted, they come with coward fear.
Explanation
The final verse explains why fear comes. When their sins are counted, they come with coward fear. Their lawless deeds convict them to their face. The passage ends by showing that the ungodly are not condemned on a misunderstanding. Their own actions provide the evidence against them.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What exactly do the ungodly fail to understand about the wise man’s end?
Look for the two things verse 17 says they do not understand: the Lord’s plan for him and why he kept him safe.
02How does the passage answer the ungodly when they despise what they see?
Notice that verse 18 contrasts their contempt with the Lord’s response and their future dishonour.
03Why do fear and conviction come upon the ungodly in the final verse?
Verse 20 points to counted sins and says their own lawless deeds convict them.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Wisdom of Solomon 4:17–20
17For the ungodly will see a wise man’s end, and won’t understand what the Lord planned for him, and why he safely kept him.
18They will see, and they will despise; but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this, they will become a dishonored carcass and a reproach among the dead forever;
19because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and will shake them from the foundations. They will lie utterly waste. They will be in anguish and their memory will perish.
20They will come with coward fear when their sins are counted. Their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.