Old Testament · Deuterocanonical
The Book of Wisdom
The Book of Wisdom is the twenty-fifth of the 46 books of the Old Testament, and one of its 7 deuterocanonical books: 19 chapters and 439 verses.
About Wisdom
About Wisdom · Wisdom exhortation
The book of Wisdom was written in Greek by an unknown Alexandrian Jew in roughly the last century before Christ, speaking in the persona of Solomon. It addresses educated Jews tempted to trade their faith for fashionable philosophy, and answers with the boldest teaching on immortality in the Old Testament: the souls of the just are in the hand of God. It belongs to the deuterocanonical books of the Catholic canon, and its portrait of the persecuted just man reads, to Christian eyes, like prophecy of the Passion.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 25 of 46, 25 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Deuterocanonical |
| Chapters | 19 |
| Verses | 439, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 19 chapters · 26 notes |
| Catechism | 14 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 19 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Wisdom 1
16 versesAn exhortation to seek God sincerely, who cannot be deceived, and desireth not our death.
Wisdom 2
25 versesThe vain reasonings of the wicked: their persecuting the just, especially the Son of God.
Wisdom 3
19 versesThe happiness of the just: and the unhappiness of the wicked.
Wisdom 4
20 versesThe difference between the chaste and the adulterous generations: and between the death of the just and the wicked.
Wisdom 5
24 versesThe fruitless repentance of the wicked in another world: the reward of the just.
Wisdom 6
27 versesAn address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by those that seek her.
Wisdom 7
30 versesThe excellence of wisdom: how she is to be found.
Wisdom 8
21 versesFurther praises of wisdom: and her fruits.
Wisdom 9
19 versesSolomon's prayer for wisdom.
Wisdom 10
21 versesWhat wisdom did for Adam, Noe, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, and the people of Israel.
Wisdom 11
27 versesOther benefits of wisdom to the people of God.
Wisdom 12
27 versesGod's wisdom and mercy in his proceedings with the Chanaanites.
Wisdom 13
19 versesIdolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods the works of the hands of men.
Wisdom 14
31 versesThe beginning of worshipping idols: and the effects thereof.
Wisdom 15
19 versesThe servants of God praise him who hath delivered them from idolatry; condemning both the makers and the worshippers of idols.
Wisdom 16
29 versesGod's different dealings with the Egyptians and with his own people.
Wisdom 17
20 versesThe Egyptian darkness.
Wisdom 18
25 versesThe slaughter of the firstborn in Egypt: the efficacy of Aaron's intercession, in the sedition on occasion of Core.
Wisdom 19
20 versesWhy God shewed no mercy to the Egyptians. His favour to the Israelites. All creatures obey God's orders for the service of the good, and the punishment of the wicked.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Wisdom is read at the principal Mass on 6 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed | First Reading | Wisdom 3:1-9 | |
| Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Wisdom 6:12-16 | |
| Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent | First Reading | Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 | |
| computed | Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 |
| computed | Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 |
| computed | Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Wisdom 7:7-11 |
| computed | The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed | First Reading | Wisdom 3:1-9 |
| computed | Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Wisdom 1:1-7 |
| computed | St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church | First Reading | Wisdom 6:1-11 |
| computed | St. Martin of Tours, Bishop | First Reading | Wisdom 7:22b—8:1 |
| computed | St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr | First Reading | Wisdom 13:1-9 |
| computed | St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin | First Reading | Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 |
| computed | Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent | First Reading | Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 |
| computed | Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Wisdom 18:6-9 |
| computed | Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Wisdom 9:13-18b |
| computed | The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed | First Reading | Wisdom 3:1-9 |
| computed | Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Wisdom 11:22—12:2 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.