The wisdom of the Apocrypha

"The wisdom of the Apocrypha" by L. Cranmer-Byng, C. E. Lawrence, and S. A. Kapadia is an anthology of Jewish wisdom literature from the biblical Apocrypha, with an editorial introduction, written in the early 20th century. The volume presents and contextualizes selections—especially The Wisdom of Solomon and Ecclesiasticus—emphasizing righteousness, duty, discipline, and practical conduct, and framing their ethical insights for modern readers and East–West understanding.

The opening of the volume sets out the series’ aim to foster goodwill between East and West, notes editorial choices and omissions, and offers an introduction that revalues the Apocrypha as vital human documents. It argues that “wisdom” largely means disciplined duty under God, surveys its relevance to everyday character and leadership, and frankly flags Ecclesiasticus’s harsh views on women while praising its shrewd maxims. The text then begins The Wisdom of Solomon (1–9): a call to righteousness; a critique of nihilistic “ungodly” reasoning; a promise that the righteous rest with God; warnings to rulers; a soaring portrait of Wisdom as God’s radiant effluence; and Solomon’s prayer to receive her. It follows with the opening of Ecclesiasticus, which strings together compact counsels on fearing the Lord, endurance in trial, honouring parents, humility, charity and justice, choosing friends, guarding speech, shunning pride and lust, prudence around the rich and powerful, repentance, and reflections on creation, human faculties, and God’s mercy and judgement. (This is an automatically generated summary.)