The document summarizes several books from the Old Testament Wisdom literature. It discusses themes in Proverbs around parenting, communication, attitude, manners, work, business, reputation, leadership, gossip, and relationships. It provides overviews of the books of Job, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, Sirach, Song of Songs, Tobit, Judith, Esther, and Jonah. It notes that these books explore questions around what constitutes a good life, the problem of evil, wisdom, human and divine love, faith, courage, piety, mercy, and the variety of outlooks that helped build Judaism before Jesus into a rich tradition.

1. The Wisdom Books Kristie Costantino Erin Brindisi Maddie Stewart Anthony Massi Sage Stevenson Steffen Romando

2. Proverbs: What is a good life? Parenting Discipline your children while there is hope; do not set your heart on their destruction Communication A soft answer turns away wrath; but a harsh word stirs up anger Attitude Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall

3. Manners at court A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great Work In a toil there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty Conducting business The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them

4. Reputation A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and a favor is better than silver or gold Leadership If a ruler listens to falsehood, all of his officials will be wicked Gossip A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends

5. Learning A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing personal opinion Relationships with neighbors A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water

6. The Story of Job Job has a wealthy family with good health Job loses everything Job doesn’t question God, and Job trusts in God Job wants to find out why the good suffer Got tells Job that He is the creator of the universe Job is awed and humbled, and admits that the mystery of life is too great for him to understand

9. The book is about a teacher named Qoheleth, who likes to quiz his students

10. Qoheleth is worried about injustice and wickedness

13. Live in Alexandria, Egypt in 100 BC.

16. Sirach: Wisdom in the Teachings of Israel Wisdom as a woman History of Israel Wisdom’s home Teachings of Israel Keeping the commandments Advice given in the book

17. Praise of Wisdom Chapter 24 Wisdom comes from mouth of God

18. Wisdom’s Testing Tests us Times for growing strong

19. The Song of Songs: Human & Divine Love Very different Love poems

20. Stories of Encouragement Jacob, Rebekah, David, Saul, Jonathan. Babylonian Exile Books of Tobit, Judith, and Esther.

21. Tobit: The Faithful Jew Written by unknown author about 200 B.C. Tobit became sad because he has become blind. (cataracts)

22. The Rewards of Faith Tobit reminds us that the end Faithful goodness and trust in god are rewarded with blessings.

23. The grateful dead Book of Tobit shows traces of several ancient stories.

24. Judith: Courage and Piety Book of Judith written by Palestinian Jew who wrote sometime after 150 B.C. Story set in the Persian period after the Babylonian Exile.

27. We are all “insiders” Ezra and Nehemiah had worked to purify Judaism of foreign elements and build the boundaries of Jewish identity. Some took it as Israel alone could be worthy of God’s mercy. Book of Jonan was written to argue against the narrow-minded spirit. God called to be alright to the rest of the world.

28. Wisdom and Virtue for Then and Now. Judaism before Jesus was engaged in a kind of ongoing conversation- with itself, God and with culture. Variety outlooks in wisdom books. Builds up rich tradition books of Tobit, Judith Esther and Honan are like responses. They speak powerfully.