Bonaventure, on Eccl 9:13

“This wisdom also I have seen under the sun, and it seemed to me to be very great:”

“Second, the defect of order in the governance of providence is shown in particular, and this in three ways. "This wisdom also I have seen under the sun." He determined above the deficiency of the governance of providence in general; here he intends to show in particular, namely concerning prelacy, because the wise are despised and fools are promoted. There are therefore in this part three parts. In the first he shows the abasement of the wise man; in the second he subjoins the commendation of the abased, there: "And I said that better" etc.; in the third he introduces the promotion of the fool, there: "If the spirit of him who has power" etc. The abasement of the wise man is therefore described in this order. First is set forth the praise of wisdom; second is expressed the case in which there is a deficiency of power; third is noted the succor of wisdom; fourth, the contempt of the wise man. There is therefore set forth the praise of wisdom, when he says: "This wisdom I have seen under the sun," that is, in worldly things I have known it by its effect: "and I judged it very great," that is, I approved and praised it as exceedingly great. For great is wisdom in conquering a lesser enemy: greater, in conquering an equal: greatest, in conquering the most powerful: whence it is said in Job 26 concerning the supremely wise One: "His prudence struck the proud one."”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.