Table of Contents

Preface to the First Edition ix

Preface to the Revised Edition xi

Preface to the Third Edition xiii

Abbreviations xiv

Introduction: On Defining Wisdom 1

1 The World of Wisdom 23

2 The Sapiential Tradition 41

3 The Pursuit of Knowledge: Proverbs 61

4 The Search for Divine Presence: Job 97

5 The Chasing after Meaning: Ecclesiastes 127

6 The Quest for Survival: Sirach 155

7 The Widening Hunt: Wisdom of Solomon, Psalms with Affinities to Wisdom, and Beyond 181

8 The Reciprocating Touch: Knowledge of God in Wisdom Literature 207

9 Wisdom's Legacy 229

10 Egyptian and Mesopotamian Wisdom Literature 251

Conclusion 273

Bibliography (Selected and Annotated) 277

Index of Ancient Sources 289

Index of Authors 296

Index of Hebrew and Greek Words 302

Index of Subjects 304