{"product_id":"the-saint-johns-bible-wisdom-books","title":"The Saint John's Bible: Wisdom Books","description":"\u003cp\u003eWisdom Books  the fifth volume of The Saint Johns Bible to be released  includes some of the Old Testaments literary masterpieces  including Song of Solomon  Ecclesiastes  and Proverbs. Also in this volume is the much-loved book of Job and two Old Testament works including the Wisdom of Solomon  which was originally written in Greek  and Sirach  which comes to us from the Greek tradition. Wisdom Books continues the work of earlier volumes  with a script created by calligrapher Donald Jackson specifically for this project. Artists that will be familiar to readers  Thomas Ingmire  Suzanne Moore  Chris Tomlin  and Sally Mae Joseph  are joined by new contributing artist Diane M. von Arx to bring light that is  illumination to the text. And the images are not to be missed. There are over fifteen large illuminations  among them the spectacular frontispiece for Ecclesiastes and another titled Creative Wisdom. Additionally  to recognize the team of calligraphers that have bonded during six years of work and to capitalize on the aphoristic nature of these books  there is a special emphasis on text treatments. As you spend time with Wisdom Books  you will find yourself treasuring both the words and the images in your heart. The Wisdom books exemplify the practical spirituality of the people of Israel. Using story  poetry  and aphorisms  the books collect practical wisdom to help guide people in how to live faithful to God  with praise and thankfulness  walking in ways that are upright. The profoundly moving story of Job asks how a good person can suffer if God is just. The Song of Solomon  long read as an allegorical love poem between God and the chosen people of Israel  or as Christ and the church  takes us beyond the commands of the prophets and lessons of history. It steps back from Israels struggle to be faithful to the Lord and concentrates on the loving relationship between the Lord and the Beloved. Sirach and Proverbs  along with Psalms  are quoted throughout the Rule of St. Benedict. Like the Rule  their pages are filled with wisdom for how to live a godly life. The Saint Johns Bible volume Wisdom Books draws out these themes wisdom as a female figure  use of Proverbs in the Rule of St. Benedict  and Gods love for us. If we today want to live wisely  we would do well to look to this beautifully illuminated collection of ancient texts. Donald Jackson is one of the worlds leading calligraphers and the artistic director and illuminator of The Saint Johns Bible. He is a Senior Illuminator to the Queen of Englands Crown Office and is an elected Fellow and past Chairman of the prestigious Society of Scribes and Illuminators. His 30-year retrospective exhibition  Painting with Words  premiered at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis  Minnesota  in August  1988 and traveled to 13 museums and galleries.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44983850663989,"sku":"ByrdShop_0814690556","price":95.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780814690550.jpg?v=1770811187","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-saint-johns-bible-wisdom-books","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}