James: Trials
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Introduction:
Introduction:
This morning we are starting a series on the book of James
Biblical Horizons
1989 – 2007
Creation Symbolism in the Epistle of James (by Peter J. Leithart)
Its seemingly moralistic tone, its apparent inattention to theological concerns, its defense of "justification by works" all have made it difficult for interpreters to discern its compatibility with other New Testament books. Luther's dismissal of James as an "epistle of straw" was only a characteristically blunt expression of an attitude shared by many students.
James has been a problematic book for many pastors and scholars over the years.
Its seemingly moralistic tone, its apparent inattention to theological concerns, its defense of "justification by works" all have made it difficult for interpreters to discern its compatibility with other New Testament books. Luther's dismissal of James as an "epistle of straw" was only a characteristically blunt expression of an attitude shared by many students.
Its seemingly moralistic tone
its apparent inattention to theological concerns,
James also has created much controversy throughout the history of the church by his affirmation that we are justified by works and not by faith alone.
The great reformer Martin Luther dismissed James as an "epistle of straw"
I have seen pastors, teachers and bible study leaders get very fidgety and uncomfortable when getting to James chapter two where he explains that faith without works is dead.
I remember in bible school students wrestling with the book of James.
And I remember legalistic pastors from my childhood who would constantly preach and teach Sunday school from James and use it as a club to beat people over the head.
So we are going to spend some time in this controversial book
and my prayer is that you’ll see James not as a moralistic book, but a book that calls you to faithful living in a troubled world.
and I pray that this series in James will draw your heart soul and mind to a deeper and more practical love for God.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
James
Who is this James? Who wrote the book of James?
Author
One of the great debates about the book of James is which James wrote it?
The Letter of James What Are the Central Themes of James?
By calling himself a “servant” James aligns himself with Israel’s noble heritage of the servants of God, most notably Moses, David, and the prophets.
James was a very common name during the time of NT, there are a number of different “James” in the Bible.
In fact, Jesus had two disciples named James and a brother named James.
Most Bible scholars narrow it down to really only two options
Either James the brother of Jesus
Or James the apostle who was one of Jesus’ three closest friends.
James the Brother of Jesus
James the Brother of Jesus
This James became the most influential leader among the jewish Christians.
greatly respected
when he spoke, people listened
He was intimidating even to Peter.
Which is interesting because James the brother of Jesus didn’t even believe jesus was the messiah during his ministry.
However, at some point he believed and God took this cynical brother and made him one of the greatest leaders in the church.
Paul calls James the brother of Jesus a pillar in the church.
James was the main speakers in the Jerusalem council in .
Because of his great resume, most commentators think this James wrote the letter of James.
The other option is James the apostle
James the Apostle
James the Apostle
James the Apostle
This James, was the brother of John and one of Jesus closest friends.
He lived his life with Jesus after Jesus called him to be a disciples
He was on the mount of Transfiguration with Jesus
He was with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane
He was there on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit came down and he spoke in tongues.
He was leader of the early church through the first 11 chapters of Acts.
However, we see in James was killed by Herod around A.D. 44
Now, the author of James could be either one, however I believe it was James the apostle, the brother of John and not James the brother of Jesus.
Because, the brother of Jesus was brought into a position of influence after Herod died which was also in AD 44.
If that is the case, the book of James had to have been written after AD44
However, I think James was written very early in the life of the church, perhaps within a year or so of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
The reason for this is because who he is writing too
Look with me at James 1.1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
The 12 tribes is not referring to the original 12 tribes or the 12 sons of Jacob in the OT
Nor is it referring to only Jewish Christians
But rather, James is writing to the new covenant people of God, Jews and gentiles.
And these Jew and Gentile Christians are in a very difficult situation, which is why James is writing them.
He writes, “To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion”
What is a dispersion?
Well, the word literally means, διασπορά: a state or condition of being scattered.
Because of persecution these new Christians had to flea their homes in order to survive.
state or condition of being scattered
So historically, something happened that caused followers of Christ to leave their homes and scatter. What was it that happened?
We find what happened in the book of Acts.
Acts chapters 1-9 all happened within a year of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
assention
Pentecost
forming of Christian community
Healings, sermons, pushback etc.
we are introduced to Stephen
Stephen sermon and execution
Saul was present
is where we find the scattering mentioned here in
1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
You see it was this scattering that James is referring to in his letter -
So James, one of the apostles who stayed in Jerusalem during this persecution is now writing a letter to these Christians who have fled to remind them to stay true to the faith.
James does not want these young believers to leave the faith.
He wants them to stay faithful to Christ in the midsts of hardship, he doesn’t want them to strey away
He wants to make sure they do not wander from the truth. But that they keep their heart soul and minds focused on the Savior.
No doubt when James wrote this letter had Jesus’ words from on his mind when he thought about these new believers suffering from tribulation and persecution.
English Standard Version Chapter 13
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
He would have remembered sitting in the boat with Jesus listening to him talk to hundreds of people on the beach, and how Jesus always talked in riddles and parables… And this one particular parable stuck with James...
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
Now these parables often confused the disciples just as much as they confused the crowds who followed him around.
6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
So later that day they talked to Jesus about his use of parables, so Jesus explained the parable of the sower to them.
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.
And in verses 20-21 we see Jesus explaining the seed that fell on rocky ground...
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower:
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
James knows these new believers who have received the seed of the truth of the gospel with joy, and it has taken root, and they have been enduring for awhile, but now that this tribulation and persecution has come upon them, he wants to make sure they don’t fall away.
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
So James writes to these young believers wanting them to stay true to the faith and not wander from the truth.
James is the letter of a concerned pastor
It’s a gritty in your face type of letter.
James is willing to talk bluntly and honestly in order to keep his people faithful and not falling away.
The purpose of the letter is to keep the Christians from wandering from the truth. To keep them from going down a path that leads to death.
And this is the message we need to hear from this book as well.
Because like the Christians in James’ day, we are also prone to wander from the truth.
And as a church we must love one another enough to save each other from wandering from the truth. Even if that means hard words are spoken.
James charges the believers to love one another well at the very end of the letter by reaching out and saving those who are walking toward destruction.
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
James knows that calling people away from their sin, away from their wandering is not just a nice thing to do, but it will actually save their souls from death.
But there is also a purpose for writing the letter to these believers, and the purpose
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
So many professing Christians don’t really believe there is a path that leads to life and a path that leads to death.
We think as long as we made a decision at one point in time, we done really need to care about what path we walk.
And whether you walk the christian life faithfully or not has the same sort of weight as whether you choose to vo
However, James is telling us to make sure we do not wander from the truth, because if we do, we are on a path that will lead to death
And the most loving thing we can do for a brother or sister who is wandering from the truth is to reach out to them and by the grace of God bring them back to the truth of the gospel.
So this is the purpose of James letter: He is writing to young believers who have been driven from their homes due to persecution and he is calling them to not wander from the truth
There are three major themes James includes in his letter to encourage the believer to not wander from the truth.
He comes discusses these themes a number of times in his letter, and introduces all three in the first 11 verses.
The three themes are:
Trials
Wisdom
Money.
This morning we a going to look at the first theme which is the theme of Trials in the Christian life.
Trials in the Christian Life
Trials in the Christian Life
And the questions James is answering is,
How are follower of Christ supposed to understand and deal with trials and tribulation?
These young believers want to be faithful to God, but really need some instruction and understanding on how to deal with difficult situations.
James knows there are few things that can so effectively cause a Christian to wander from the truth than hardships.
I have had countless conversations with people who have questions God’s love, faithfulness, grace, and truth because they were going through a trial and were not equipped to handle it well.
I know many people who have walked away from God completely because life got hard, and they thought God was supposed to make their lives easy.
James understands this temptation,
James knows that the scorching heat of trials can cause a the faith of some to wither away. Just as Jesus said in the parable of the sower in matthew 13
So as a caring pastor James writes to these believers and helps them to understand how to walk through trials. And how trials are not punishment from God, but rather they are used by God for our good
And James waists no time jumping right into the issue of Trials in the Christian life…
So when trials come, follower of Christ should consider it joyous occasion because we know that God is tuning us, he is shaping us, he is molding us to be more like Christ.
Look with me at
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James tells the believers to count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds.
First, I want you to notice what James DOES NOT say when we come face to face with trials
James does NOT say to protect yourself from trials
So many people spend their lives and all the energy they can muster trying to avoid trials and hardships.
Perhaps this is you?
You avoid people if there could be conflict
You avoid situations if it could lead to disagreement
You spend our lives avoiding everything in order to keep hardships away.
And when you can not longer hide, you bunker down, wait for the storm to pass.
We often think “I am too tired for this trial, i’m to worn out, I can’t deal with this right now.”
We become passive and protect ourselves from having to actually deal with the trial.
James does not let us off the hook that easy, he does not tell us to protect ourselves, he tells us to have joy in the midsts of trials, (Count it all Joy).
James does NOT say to vindicate yourself in trials
Often times when trials and hardships come we feel like we need to prove that its not our fault, that we are righteous and innocent.
We want to prove or vindicate ourselves in the midst of trials.
We want to blame others for the trial and point fingers so no one will think its us.
But James does not tell us to try and prove our righteousness or vindicate ourselves, rather he tell us to have joy in the midsts of trials (Count it all joy)
James does NOT say to power through trials
For many when trials come something switches inside and we have a war-time mentality.
We attack anything that would cause us discomfort.
we attack anyone who would dare say this trial is our fault.
We become so focused on getting through the trail that we pay no attention to the wake of damage we have caused trying to power through
We are not to try and power through trials, because James tells us to have joy in the midst of trials (count it all joy)
How are follower of Christ supposed to understand and deal with trials, with persecution and tribulation?
These young believers want to be faithful to God, but really need some instruction and understanding on how to deal with difficult situations.
James knows there are few things that can so effectively cause a Christian to wander from the truth than hardships.
I have had countless conversations with people who have questions God’s love, faithfulness, grace, and truth because they were going through a trial and were not equipped to handle it well.
I know many people who have walked away from God completely because life got hard, and they thought God was supposed to make their lives easy.
James understands this temptation,
So James does NOT want these young believers to try and hide from trials, he does not want them to try and vindicate themselves in the midst of trials, nor does he want them to just power through trials. Rather, he wants them to count it all joy when they meet trials.
So how in the world were they, or are we, supposed to count it all joy when we meet trials?
James knows that the scorching heat of trials can cause a the faith of some to wither away. Just as Jesus said in the parable of the sower in matthew 13
Look with me...
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1
So as a caring pastor James writes to these believers and helps them to understand how to walk through trials. And how trials are not punishment from God, but rather they are used by God for our good
James tells us that trials test our faith -
and the testing of faith produces steadfastness -
And steadfastness when it has its full effect, leads us to be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Now, this idea of being perfect and complete is not referring to moral perfection, rather it is speaking of the telos of all humanity - It is talking about living the way we were designed.
Pen Example**
As men and women we were made in the image of God
And to bear God image perfectly is to be fully human. We are fully human, fully free, fully satisfied when we image God perfectly.
However, because of Adam’s sin we no longer able to bear God’s image perfectly.
Yet, because of Adam’s sin we no longer bear God’s image perfectly. We fail to image or reflect so much of who God is.
Sin tainted the image of God in creation.
Because of sin we cannot image God perfectly, therefore because of sin we are not fully human as God created us to be.
So every person from Adam on down has failed to image God perfectly. Until the second Adam came.
When Jesus came he was the perfect image of God.
Hebrews says, “he is the exact imprint of God’s nature”
Jesus was the only person since the fall of Adam to be fully human, unaffected by sin, perfectly imaging God in all things.
So when James says that trials lead to steadfastness, and steadfastness leads to being perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
trials are instruments in the redeemers hands used to tune his people to live according melody of the gospel.
What he is saying is that God uses trials and suffering to form us more into the image of Christ.
This should not be a surprise to us.
What is the greatest suffering and trial the world has ever seen?
The Cross of Christ
And Jesus did not try and protect himself from the cross
He did not try and vindicate himself on the cross
He did not try and just power through the cross.
But rather it was for the JOY set before him that he endured the cross.
And he called his disciples to follow in his footsteps
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
The Christian life is a life of trials and tribulations.
When we pick up our cross and follow him, that is not an invitation to the easy life, its an invitation to come and die with Christ.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
So when James says, “count it all joy when you meet trials”
He is saying we should find the greatest joy in the midst of trials because trials are instruments in the hand of God used to tune his people to live according rhythm of the gospel.
trials are instruments in the God’s hands used to tune his people to live according rhythm of the gospel.
When trials come, follower of Christ should consider it a joyous occasion because we know that God is tuning us, he is shaping us, he is molding us to be more like our glorious Savior. To be more fully human.
So when trials come, follower of Christ should consider it joyous occasion because we know that God is tuning us, he is shaping us, he is molding us to be more like Christ.
James does not want these young believers to wander from the truth because trials and tribulations. Rather, he wants them to rejoice in the face of trials because through fire of trial we are formed into the image of Christ.
Rejoice in the Face of Trials
Rejoice in the Face of Trials
Church, each and everyone one of you has or is currently struggling with hardships and trials.
You’re either in a storm or have just come out of a storm, and if that the case your about to enter the next one.
When trials comes we often act like the disciples on the boat when the storm came upon them. They were afraid, and screaming, and anxious, and nervous, and forgetful.
you see, the disciples forgot who was on the boat with them, they forgot that Jesus did not send them into the storm on their own, but he was there with them.
The sovereign one, the king of kings and the Lord of lords, the creator and sustainer of the universe was in the storm with them.
The one who speaks and demons flee, the one who with a touch heals the lame.
The one who speaks and worlds come into existence
The one who in creation set the boundaries for the raging seas, he told them how far they could come and where they had to stop.
You see they forgot that Jesus was in the storm with them, but when Jesus got up and told the wind and the seas to shut themselves up and they obeyed, then the disciples remembered.
When we understand that Jesus is in the midst of the storm with us, when we believe that he sustains us and protects us when trials and tribulations come...
When we know Jesus for who he really is, we will have a joy that cannot be explained, and we will look a the storms that are coming and laugh at the days to come.
Let’s pray.
Theme Two: Wisdom
Theme Two: Wisdom
Wisdom is a big theme in James letter because he wants these young believers to be wise and understanding.
He wants them to seek the wisdom of God, the wisdom that is from above.
The wisdom of God calls men and women to be faithful and to put their allegiance to God above all else.
The wisdom of man says to protect yourself, vindicate yourself, and to figure out a way to come out on top.
James does not want these young Christians seeking the wisdom of man as they are scattered from their homes, but rather to seek the wisdom of God.
Look with me at 1:5-8
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James come right out and tells them, that if you lack wisdom, ask God, for God gives wisdom to his people generously.
God wants us to be wise, and he wants to give us the wisdom that is from above. So we ask him and he always faithful to answer.
Do you know how God answers the prayer for wisdom?
Does he download wisdom into our minds?
Does he whisper wisdom into our ears?
No, its far more concrete than that.
God gives wisdom generously
Wisdom vv. 5-8
1 Then the righteous man will stand with great confidence in the presence of those who have afflicted him, and those who make light of his labors. 2 When they see him, they will be shaken with dreadful fear, and they will be amazed at his unexpected salvation. 3 They will speak to one another in repentance, and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say, 4 “This is the man whom we once held in derision and made a byword of reproach—we fools! We thought that his life was madness and that his end was without honor. 5 Why has he been numbered among the sons of God? And why is his lot among the saints? 6 So it was we who strayed from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness did not shine on us, and the sun did not rise upon us. 7 We took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction, and we journeyed through trackless deserts, but the way of the Lord we have not known. 8 What has our arrogance profited us? And what good has our boasted wealth brought us? 9 “All those things have vanished like a shadow, and like a rumor that passes by; 10 like a ship that sails through the billowy water, and when it has passed no trace can be found, nor track of its keel in the waves; 11 or as, when a bird flies through the air, no evidence of its passage is found; the light air, lashed by the beat of its pinions and pierced by the force of its rushing flight, is traversed by the movement of its wings, and afterward no sign of its coming is found there; 12 or as, when an arrow is shot at a target, the air, thus divided, comes together at once, so that no one knows its pathway. 13 So we also, as soon as we were born, ceased to be, and we had no sign of virtue to show, but were consumed in our wickedness.” 14 Because the hope of the ungodly man is like chaff carried by the wind, and like a light hoarfrost driven away by a storm; it is dispersed like smoke before the wind, and it passes like the remembrance of a guest who stays but a day. 15 But the righteous live for ever, and their reward is with the Lord; the Most High takes care of them. 16 Therefore they will receive a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord, because with his right hand he will cover them, and with his arm he will shield them. 17 The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armor, and will arm all creation to repel his enemies; 18 he will put on righteousness as a breastplate, and wear impartial justice as a helmet; 19 he will take holiness as an invincible shield, 20 and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, and creation will join with him to fight against the madmen. 21 Shafts of lightning will fly with true aim, and will leap to the target as from a well-drawn bow of clouds, 22 and hailstones full of wrath will be hurled as from a catapult; the water of the sea will rage against them, and rivers will relentlessly overwhelm them; 23 a mighty wind will rise against them, and like a tempest it will winnow them away. Lawlessness will lay waste the whole earth, and evil-doing will overturn the thrones of rulers. 1 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. 2 Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations. 3 For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High, who will search out your works and inquire into your plans. 4 Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly, nor keep the law, nor walk according to the purpose of God, 5 he will come upon you terribly and swiftly, because severe judgment falls on those in high places. 6 For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy, but mighty men will be mightily tested. 7 For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one, nor show deference to greatness; because he himself made both small and great, and he takes thought for all alike. 8 But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty. 9 To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed, that you may learn wisdom and not transgress. 10 For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, and those who have been taught them will find a defense. 11 Therefore set your desire on my words; long for them, and you will be instructed. 12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. 13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. 14 He who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates. 15 To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and he who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, 16 because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought. 17 The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction, and concern for instruction is love of her, 18 and love of her is the keeping of her laws, and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality, 19 and immortality brings one near to God; 20 so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom. 21 Therefore if you delight in thrones and scepters, O monarchs over the peoples, honor wisdom, that you may reign for ever. 22 I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be, and I will hide no secrets from you, but I will trace her course from the beginning of creation, and make knowledge of her clear, and I will not pass by the truth; 23 neither will I travel in the company of sickly envy, for envy does not associate with wisdom. 24 A multitude of wise men is the salvation of the world, and a sensible king is the stability of his people. 25 Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit. 1 I also am mortal, like all men, a descendant of the first-formed child of earth; and in the womb of a mother I was molded into flesh, 2 within the period of ten months, compacted with blood, from the seed of a man and the pleasure of marriage. 3 And when I was born, I began to breathe the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth, and my first sound was a cry, like that of all. 4 I was nursed with care in swaddling cloths. 5 For no king has had a different beginning of existence; 6 there is for all mankind one entrance into life, and a common departure. 7 Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. 8 I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. 9 Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her. 10 I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases. 11 All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth. 12 I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know that she was their mother. 13 I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth, 14 for it is an unfailing treasure for men; those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction. 15 May God grant that I speak with judgment and have thought worthy of what I have received, for he is the guide even of wisdom and the corrector of the wise. 16 For both we and our words are in his hand, as are all understanding and skill in crafts. 17 For it is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements; 18 the beginning and end and middle of times, the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons, 19 the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars, 20 the natures of animals and the tempers of wild beasts, the powers of spirits and the reasonings of men, the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots; 21 I learned both what is secret and what is manifest, 22 for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me. For in her there is a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, irresistible, 23 beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all-powerful, overseeing all, and penetrating through all spirits that are intelligent and pure and most subtle. 24 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. 25 For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. 26 For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. 27 Though she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; 28 for God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom. 29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be superior, 30 for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail. 1 She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and she orders all things well. 2 I loved her and sought her from my youth, and I desired to take her for my bride, and I became enamored of her beauty. 3 She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, and the Lord of all loves her. 4 For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God, and an associate in his works. 5 If riches are a desirable possession in life, what is richer than wisdom who effects all things? 6 And if understanding is effective, who more than she is fashioner of what exists? 7 And if any one loves righteousness, her labors are virtues; for she teaches self-control and prudence, justice and courage; nothing in life is more profitable for men than these. 8 And if any one longs for wide experience, she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come; she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles; she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders and of the outcome of seasons and times. 9 Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she would give me good counsel and encouragement in cares and grief. 10 Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young. 11 I shall be found keen in judgment, and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired. 12 When I am silent they will wait for me, and when I speak they will give heed; and when I speak at greater length they will put their hands on their mouths. 13 Because of her I shall have immortality, and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me. 14 I shall govern peoples, and nations will be subject to me; 15 dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me; among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous in war. 16 When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her, for companionship with her has no bitterness, and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy. 17 When I considered these things inwardly, and thought upon them in my mind, that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality, 18 and in friendship with her, pure delight, and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth, and in the experience of her company, understanding, and renown in sharing her words, I went about seeking how to get her for myself. 19 As a child I was by nature well endowed, and a good soul fell to my lot; 20 or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body. 21 But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me— and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was— so I appealed to the Lord and besought him, and with my whole heart I said:
Wisdom
Riches vv. 9-11