The Good Book--Book of Wisdom opus 734
| 9 January 2026 2355 Hours | | Philosophy, Ethics, Law, Poetry, Psychology, Relationship |
This is my second try at the Good Book,
The modern secular bible with a Humanistic approach.
I have had this book sitting near me for several years.
I liked the title, but it took forever to open it.
Now that I have, I am quietly overjoyed.
Speaking of wisdom, as a boy and now as a man,
I was always disturbed by, especially young men,
Who declared that they 'hated school'.
I occasionally, even now, meet grown men saying the same.
School for me was the place 'to find out'.
I have often said to my students, that especially in higher education,
We here, accrue and organize facts and knowledge
In order to add to possible human wisdom.
Rejecting school to me was rejecting exercise for the mind,
As rejecting 'phys ed', as many also did,
Was rejecting the vital need for exercise for the body.
Without these things, we can experience obesity and blank minds.
This book has much to say and I give you a touch now
With Chapter I, accompanied by a few verses,
Simple in the beginning, and waxing with more complexity:
(Each Chapter of Wisdom is echoingly finalized with this verse 21.)
1. Give your ears to hear what is said
and your heart to know what is meant.
2. Let what is wise rest in the casket of
your mind, to be the key to your heart.
3. He whose works exceed his wisdom,
his wisdom will endure.
4. But he whose wisdom exceeds his works,
his wisdom will not endure.
5. The mighty man is he who
conquers himself.
6. The rich man is he who is satisfied
with what he has.
7. The honorable man is he who honors others.
8. But the wise man is he who learns
from all men.
21. The question to be asked at the end
of each day is, 'How long will you
delay to be wise?'
At the conclusion of perusing (here meaning
'To read over attentively') the Book of Wisdom,
I understand more in depth the difference
Between knowledge and wisdom.
So now in these trying and difficult times--
'It is time for all of us to do the good that is needed.'