Read & explore together
Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy
In this passage from the Catholic additional book Wisdom of Solomon, the speaker says wisdom is worth more than power, wealth, beauty, or light, and says it should be passed on openly, not kept back.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–14 is a wisdom passage spoken in the first person. The speaker says he prayed and asked, then compares wisdom with sceptres, thrones, riches, gems, health, beauty, and light. He adds that good things came with wisdom and that he shares what he learned without grudging.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–14Main takeaway
This passage presents wisdom as greater than status or wealth and as something to be shared honestly.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Prayer and asking come firstThe passage opens with two simple actions: “I prayed” and “I asked”. After that, the speaker says understanding was given and “a spirit of wisdom” came.
Explanation
The passage opens with two simple actions: “I prayed” and “I asked”. After that, the speaker says understanding was given and “a spirit of wisdom” came. The order matters in the passage. Wisdom is introduced as something received after prayer and asking, not as something the speaker boasts of producing alone.
02Wisdom outranks rule and richesThe speaker says wisdom was preferred before “sceptres and thrones”, so authority is not treated as the highest good.
Explanation
The speaker says wisdom was preferred before “sceptres and thrones”, so authority is not treated as the highest good. Riches are counted as nothing beside wisdom. Priceless gems, gold, and silver are all described as small by comparison, with gold like sand and silver like clay before her.
03Wisdom is chosen above health, beauty, and lightThe comparison continues with very desirable things. The speaker says he loved wisdom more than “health and beauty” and chose her rather than light.
Explanation
The comparison continues with very desirable things. The speaker says he loved wisdom more than “health and beauty” and chose her rather than light. The reason given is that her shining “is never laid to sleep”. In this passage, wisdom is presented as enduring in a way these other goods are not.
04Good things come with wisdom, and wisdom is sharedThe speaker says “all good things” came with wisdom and that wisdom leads them. He then says he learned “without guile” and imparts “without grudging”, refusing to hide wisdom’s riches.
Explanation
The speaker says “all good things” came with wisdom and that wisdom leads them. He then says he learned “without guile” and imparts “without grudging”, refusing to hide wisdom’s riches. The closing line calls wisdom an unfailing treasure and links using it with friendship with God and discipline.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the speaker say he did before understanding was given?
Notice the two opening actions in the verse, then describe what came after them.
02Which things are named as less valuable than wisdom?
Collect the examples from the passage, including authority, riches, precious materials, and personal advantages.
03How does the speaker describe passing wisdom on to others?
Use the exact phrases about learning, imparting, and not hiding wisdom’s riches.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–14
7For this cause I prayed, and understanding was given to me. I asked, and a spirit of wisdom came to me.
8I preferred her before sceptres and thrones. I considered riches nothing in comparison to her.
9Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold in her presence is a little sand, and silver will be considered as clay before her.
10I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her bright shining is never laid to sleep.
11All good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches are in her hands.
12And I rejoiced over them all because wisdom leads them; although I didn’t know that she was their mother.
13As I learned without guile, I impart without grudging. I don’t hide her riches.
14For she is a treasure for men that doesn’t fail, and those who use it obtain friendship with God, commended by the gifts which they present through discipline.