Single lesson
Wisdom of Solomon 7: Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy
Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–14; Wisdom of Solomon 7:15–21
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. This lesson also brings together Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of Wisdom of Solomon 7: Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy, using two details from the reading. This passage presents wisdom as greater than status or wealth and as something to be shared honestly. According to this passage, wisdom and knowledge come from God, who guides the wise and gives understanding of many kinds.
Welcome: Wisdom of Solomon 7: Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy
5 minIntroduce “Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy”, “Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift” and locate Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–14; Wisdom of Solomon 7:15–21. This passage presents wisdom as greater than status or wealth and as something to be shared honestly. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:7, Wisdom of Solomon 7:11, Wisdom of Solomon 7:14
Read and explain the passage
12 minWisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy (Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–14): 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.
Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift (Wisdom of Solomon 7:15–21): 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”.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy”, “Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:7, Wisdom of Solomon 7:15
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What does the speaker say he did before understanding was given?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. According to this passage, wisdom and knowledge come from God, who guides the wise and gives understanding of many kinds. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:7, Wisdom of Solomon 7:8, Wisdom of Solomon 7:9, Wisdom of Solomon 7:10, Wisdom of Solomon 7:17, Wisdom of Solomon 7:18, Wisdom of Solomon 7:19, Wisdom of Solomon 7:20, Wisdom of Solomon 7:21
Make and respond: Wisdom comparison cards
12 minWork on “Wisdom of Solomon 7: Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy: Wisdom comparison cards”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy”, “Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:7, Wisdom of Solomon 7:14, Wisdom of Solomon 7:21
Closing: return to Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift
3 minRevisit Wisdom of Solomon 7:15–21. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:15, Wisdom of Solomon 7:18, Wisdom of Solomon 7:21
Questions to explore
What does the speaker say he did before understanding was given?
Notice the two opening actions in the verse, then describe what came after them.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:7
Which things are named as less valuable than wisdom?
Collect the examples from the passage, including authority, riches, precious materials, and personal advantages.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:8, Wisdom of Solomon 7:9, Wisdom of Solomon 7:10
How 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.
Wisdom of Solomon 7:17, Wisdom of Solomon 7:18, Wisdom of Solomon 7:19, Wisdom of Solomon 7:20, Wisdom of Solomon 7:21
Make, think or respond
Wisdom of Solomon 7: Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy: Wisdom comparison cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage commends”, “What it warns against”, “The reason or outcome stated”.
- Read Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–14; Wisdom of Solomon 7:15–21. Use “Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy”, “Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write a proposed everyday example beside one teaching. Label it as your example and explain which words in the text guided it.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Wisdom of Solomon 7: Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Wisdom is preferred to wealth and shared without jealousy”, “Knowledge of the world is acknowledged as God’s gift” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–14; Wisdom of Solomon 7:15–21. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Wisdom of Solomon 7:7–14; Wisdom of Solomon 7:15–21. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Wisdom of Solomon 7
7 For this cause I prayed, and understanding was given to me. I asked, and a spirit of wisdom came to me.
8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones. I considered riches nothing in comparison to her.
9 Neither 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.
10 I 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.
11 All good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches are in her hands.
12 And I rejoiced over them all because wisdom leads them; although I didn’t know that she was their mother.
13 As I learned without guile, I impart without grudging. I don’t hide her riches.
14 For 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.
15 But 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.
16 For both we and our words are in his hand, with all understanding and skill in various crafts.
17 For 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;
18 the beginning, end, and middle of times; the alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons;
19 the circuits of years and the positions of stars;
20 the 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.
21 All things that are either secret or manifest I learned,
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.