The Navarre Bible - Wisdom Books

 

This volume, which follows the pattern of the highly successful Navarre Bible New Testament, consists of the Revised Standard Version and the New Vulgate with a Commentary by members of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Navarre, Spain. The commentaries, which help to explain the doctrinal and practical meaning of the scriptural text, draw on a rich variety of sources - church documents, the exegesis of the Fathers and the Doctors, and the works of prominent spiritual writers, particularly St. Josemaria Escriva, who initiated the Navarre Bible project.

This volume includes the book of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, and Sirach. (the book of Psalms is sold as a separate volume - item# 1001701)

The books of the Bible usually described as "poetical" and "wisdom" books include Psalms, Song of Songs, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, and Wisdom. Although poetic language is to be found in many Old Testament books, it is the predominant form in book of Psalms and the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon). The lyric poetry in these separates them from the other books which consist mainly of proverbs or aphorisms in verse form, and wisdom poems in varying lengths. This is primarily why the Psalms and the Song are described as poetical books, and the others as wisdom books.

Whereas the first five books of the Old Testament - the Pentateuch - record the Law of Moses in the form of commandments, the Wisdom Books propound that teaching in the form of counsels and proverbs. They also reveal the close connection between knowledge that comes through faith, and knowledge acquired through human reasoning.

The book of Job takes the form of a narrative - the story of an upright man who experiences misfortune after misfortune; to a degree, it lifts the veil that shrouds the mystery of suffering. The book Ecclesiastes helps the believer to appreciate the value of things heavenly. Proverbs consists of seven collections of wise sayings from the ancient East. The Wisdom of Solomon, which probably originated in the Jewish community of Alexandria (Egypt), interfaces with the world of Greek culture. Sirach, written by someone steeped in the wisdom of tradition of Israel, was much used by the early Fathers of the Church.

Reading and reflecting on the Wisdom Books helps to prepare the human mind and spirit to receive the Lord and understand His teaching.

See our entire selection of Navarre Bibles.