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Atlas of Saints

Ecclesiasticus

Chapter 1 · Douay–Rheims / Challoner

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Chapter I · Location 1 of 51

Chapter 1 · Open to read

From Ecclesiasticus · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)

What does Ecclesiasticus Chapter 1 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Wisdom’s divine origin and creation precede questions about her root and counsels. Fear is described as beginning, fullness, crown and root with attributed promises. Patience, justice and sincere speech conclude in a conditional warning.

Chapter breakdown

Ecclesiasticus 1 says all wisdom comes from the Lord, has always been with him and precedes time. Questions concern counting sea sand, rain and days, measuring heaven, earth and abyss, and searching earlier-than-all divine wisdom. It says wisdom was created before all things and prudence from everlasting; God's word is her fountain and everlasting commandments her ways. Further questions ask who knows her root, counsels, discipline and many steps. The enthroned Almighty Creator and king created, saw, numbered and measured her in the Holy Ghost and poured her upon works and flesh according to his gift, giving her to lovers.

Fear of the Lord is honor, glory and joy's crown, promising heart delight, gladness, long days and blessing at death. Love of God is honorable wisdom; those shown her love her through sight and works. Fear begins wisdom, created with faithful in womb, walking with chosen women and known among just and faithful. Religiousness of knowledge keeps and justifies heart and brings joy. Fear is fullness with fruits, house increase and stored treasure, crown with peace and salvation fruit; both are gifts. Wisdom distributes knowledge and prudence and exalts holders. Fear is root with long-lived branches. Understanding and religious knowledge are treasures, but sinners abhor wisdom.

Fear drives out sin; without it justification fails and high spirits' wrath ruins. Patience bears for a time before joy returns; understanding conceals words before many praise wisdom. Discipline is wisdom's treasure and sinners abhor worship. The son desiring wisdom is told to keep justice, with faith and meekness pleasing God. Warnings forbid disbelief, double heart, hypocrisy and stumbling speech: guard lips lest dishonor, exposure of secrets and congregational humiliation follow a deceitful approach. Promises and warnings remain attributed, not permanent safety or inevitable public-exposure guarantees.

The story inside

Opening: Wisdom’s divine origin and creation precede questions about her root and counsels. Development: Fear is described as beginning, fullness, crown and root with attributed promises. Conclusion: Patience, justice and sincere speech conclude in a conditional warning.

Lessons worth keeping

  1. 1
    Wisdom’s divine origin and creation precede questions about her root and counsels.
  2. 2
    Fear is described as beginning, fullness, crown and root with attributed promises.
  3. 3
    Patience, justice and sincere speech conclude in a conditional warning.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

  1. Lines 73274–73275

    1:1. All wisdom is from the Lord God, and hath been always with him, and is before all time.
  2. Lines 73320–73322

    1:16. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and was created with the faithful in the womb, it walketh with chosen women, and is known with the just and faithful.
  3. Lines 73376–73377

    1:36. Be not incredulous to the fear of the Lord: and come not to him with a double heart.

Location: chapter 1 of 51 · 2%

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