Wisdom literature

Wisdom literature is the a genre of literature common in the Ancient Near East. This genre is characterized by praise of God, often in poetic form, and by sayings of wisdom intended to teach about God and about virtue.

The most famous examples of wisdom literature are found in the Bible. The following Biblical books are classified as wisdom literature:

• Psalms
• Proverbs
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Songs (also known as Song of Solomon)
• Wisdom (also known as Wisdom of Solomon)
• Sirach (also known as Ben Sira or Ecclesiasticus)

The first four of these books are considered canonical by Jews and Christians. The final two of these books are considered canonical by Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians, but not by other Christians or by Jews.