Wisdom Chapter 13

Other Translations

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Vani autem sunt omnes homines, in quibus non subest scientia Dei: et de his, quæ videntur bona, non potuerunt intelligere eum, qui est, neque operibus attendentes agnoverunt quis esset artifex:

2 sed aut ignem, aut spiritum, aut citatum aerem, aut gyrum stellarum, aut nimiam aquam, aut solem et lunam, rectores orbis terrarum deos putaverunt.

3 Quorum si specie delectati, deos putaverunt: sciant quanto his dominator eorum speciosior est. Speciei enim generator hæc omnia constituit.

4 Aut si virtutem et opera eorum mirati sunt, intelligant ab illis, quoniam qui hæc fecit, fortior est illis:

5 a magnitudine enim speciei, et creaturæ cognoscibiliter poterit creator horum videri.

6 Sed tamen adhuc in his minor est querela. Et hi enim fortasse errant, Deum quærentes, et volentes invenire.

7 Etenim cum in operibus illius conversentur, inquirunt: et persuasum habent quoniam bona sunt quæ videntur.

8 Iterum autem nec his debet ignosci.

9 Si enim tantum potuerunt scire, ut possent æstimare sæculum: quomodo huius Dominum non facilius invenerunt?

10 Infelices autem sunt, et inter mortuos spes illorum est, qui appellaverunt deos opera manuum hominum, aurum et argentum, artis inventionem, et similitudines animalium, aut lapidem inutilem opus manus antiquæ.

11 Aut siquis artifex faber de silva lignum rectum secuerit, et huius docte eradat omnem corticem, et arte sua usus, diligenter fabricet vas utile in conversationem vitæ,

12 reliquiis autem eius operis, ad præparationem escæ abutatur:

13 et reliquum horum, quod ad nullos usus facit, lignum curvum, et vorticibus plenum, sculpat diligenter per vacuitatem suam, et per scientiam suæ artis figuret illud, et assimilet illud imagini hominis,

14 aut alicui ex animalibus illud comparet, perliniens rubrica, et rubicundum faciens fuco colorem illius, et omnem maculam, quæ in illo est, perliniens:

15 et faciat ei dignam habitationem, et in pariete ponens illud, et confirmans ferro,

16 ne forte cadat, prospiciens illi, sciens quoniam non potest adiuvare se: imago enim est, et opus est illi adiutorium.

17 Et de substantia sua, et de filiis suis, et de nuptiis votum faciens inquirit. Non erubescit loqui cum illo, qui sine anima est:

18 et pro sanitate quidem infirmum deprecatur, et pro vita rogat mortuum, et in adiutorium inutilem invocat:

19 et pro itinere petit ab eo, qui ambulare non potest: et de acquirendo, et de operando, et de omnium rerum eventu petit ab eo, qui in omnibus est inutilis.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).