What wisdom did for Adam, Noe, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, and the
people of Israel.
10:1. She preserved him, that was first formed by God, the father of
the world, when he was created alone,
10:2. And she brought him out of his sin, and gave him power to govern
all things.
10:3. But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished
by the fury wherewith he murdered his brother.
The unjust. . .Cain.
10:4. For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it
again, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood.
For whose cause. . .Viz., for the wickedness of the race of Cain.--Ibid.
The just. . .Noe.
10:5. Moreover, when the nations had conspired together to consent to
wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God,
and kept him strong against the compassion for his son.
She knew the just. . .She found out and approved Abraham. Ibid.
And kept him strong, etc. . .Gave him strength to stand firm against
the efforts of his natural tenderness, when he was ordered to sacrifice
his son.
10:6. She delivered the just man, who fled from the wicked that were
perishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis:
The just man. . .Lot.--Ibid. Pentapolis. . .The land of the five cities,
Sodom, Gomorrha, etc.
10:7. Whose land, for a testimony of their wickedness, is desolate, and
smoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a
standing pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul.
10:8. For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that
they were ignorant of good things; but they left also unto men a
memorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned,
they could not so much as lie hid.
10:9. But wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her.
10:10. She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother's wrath,
through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him
the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours,
and accomplished his labours.
The just. . .Jacob.
10:11. In the deceit of them that overreached him, she stood by him,
and made him honourable.
10:12. She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from
seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and
know that wisdom is mightier than all.
Conflict. . .Viz., with the angel.
10:13. She forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him
from sinners: she went down with him into the pit.
The just when he was sold. . .Viz., Joseph.
10:14. And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre
of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed
them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory.
10:15. She delivered the just people, and blameless seed, from the
nations that oppressed them.
10:16. She entered into the soul of the servant of God and stood
against dreadful kings in wonders and signs.
The servant of God. . .Viz., Moses.
10:17. And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and
conducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by
day, and for the light of stars by night:
10:18. And she brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over
through a great water.
10:19. But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of
hell she brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the
wicked.
10:20. And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with
one accord thy victorious hand.
10:21. For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of
infants eloquent.