The Book of Wisdom

Alfred Thomas Scrope Goodrick (1856-1914) published this translation of the Book of Wisdom in 1913. Educated at Cambridge, Oxford and Göttingen, a Fellow and librarian of St John's, Oxford, and then rector at Winterbourne, Gloucestershire, Goodrick was a scholar of some note and varied interests, translating Grimmelshausen's Simplicissimus and editing the memoir of the Civil War soldier Sydnam Poyntz. Traditionally thought to be written by King Solomon, and containing prophecies and moral instruction, the Book of Widsom is one of the deuterocanonical books of the Bible, its canonicity being disputed. In addition to notes, appendices and indices, an extensive introduction is provided, covering matters of date, composition, authorship, unity and manuscript sources. Using the text prepared by Henry Barclay Swete, with minor emendations, Goodrick has undertaken his own English translation from the Greek. This work of close scholarship remains of relevance to readers interested in Old Testament exegesis.