“Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things.”
She. The uncreated wisdom is infinite; and the created is the most excellent of God’s gifts. (Worthington) — Sweetly. God is every where present, (St. Bernard) and directeth all with ease. (St. Augustine, ep. ad Dard. q. i.)
“For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.”
Works. Directing us to imitate them, as much as possible. (Haydock) — She teaches us how to refer all to God, (Menochius) while mere philosophers stop at vain speculations, and barren admiration of the Deity.
“And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?”
Are. Wisdom is an universal teacher. But she particularly inculcates virtue. All science which has not this tendency is vain. (Calmet)
“If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.”
Speeches. Rhetoric, (Grotius) or doubtful matters, as Solomon discovered the real mother, 3 Kings iii. 27. — Arguments. Greek, “riddles,” which were much in fashion, 3 Kings x. 1. (Calmet) — Wonders. Such as comets and eclipses. (Menochius) — When Anaxagoras discovered the latter, he durst not write, but only instructed his disciples in secret, for fear of being taken for an atheist, or magician. (Plut.[Plutarch?] in Nicias.) — The sciences, which are now common, were formerly confined to few; and the people looked upon eclipses as so many prodigies. The wise man is possessed of all natural sciences, and can predict the changes of weather, &c. — Ages. Forming a judgment of futurity from past occurrences.
“Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.”
After me. He speaks to the great, who are more sensible of glory. Solomon’s fame would have continued untarnished, if he had not fallen, (Calmet) and we may hope that he repented, and verified this prediction. (Haydock) — It is not certain that he obtained immortal glory. (Worthington)
“Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.”
Of me. Wisdom is the best protection. — Good and valiant. These are the two most essential qualifications of kings.
“For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.”
Received. “By lot,” sortitus, (Haydock) to exclude all preceding merit. (St. Augustine, de Gen. lit. x. 18.) — Good soul. Natural dispositions (Pineda) are perfected by grace and labour. (Calmet)
“Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.”
More good. The pre-existence of souls seems to be insinuated, though this is not clear, and the opinion is now rejected. Some are born with a better disposition for learning than others. (St. Augustine, contra Jul. iv. 3.) — Yet none possess any seeds of virtue by nature, or are more infected than others, with original sin, as some heretics would assert. (Calmet)
“Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was; I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him, and with my whole heart I said,”
Continent. All good must come from God. (Haydock) — Chastity cannot be preserved without his aid. (St. Augustine, Confessions vi. 11.) — Yet this seems not to be the literal sense. Solomon prays for the acquisition of wisdom, (Calmet; Ecclesiasticus vi. 28., and xv. 1.; Menochius) which includes continence, religion, and every virtue. (Haydock)