Wisdom Chapter 15

Other Translations

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

1 Tu autem Deus noster, suavis et verus es, patiens, et in misericordia disponens omnia.

2 Etenim si peccaverimus, tui sumus, scientes magnitudinem tuam: et si non peccaverimus, scimus quoniam apud te sumus computati.

3 Nosse enim te, consummata iustitia est: et scire iustitiam, et virtutem tuam, radix est immortalitatis.

4 Non enim in errorem induxit nos hominum malæ artis excogitatio, nec umbra picturæ labor sine fructu, effigies sculpta per varios colores,

5 cuius aspectus insensato dat concupiscentiam, et diligit mortuæ imaginis effigiem sine anima.

6 Malorum amatores, digni sunt qui spem habeant in talibus, et qui faciunt illos, et qui diligunt, et qui colunt.

7 Sed et figulus mollem terram premens laboriose fingit ad usus nostros unumquodque vas, et de eodem luto fingit quæ munda sunt in usum vasa, et similiter quæ his sunt contraria: horum autem vasorum quis sit usus, iudex est figulus.

8 Et cum labore vano deum fingit de eodem luto: ille qui paulo ante de terra factus fuerat, et post pusillum reducit se unde acceptus est, repetitus animæ debitum quam habebat.

9 Sed cura est illi, non quia laboraturus est, nec quoniam brevis illi vita est, sed concertatur aurificibus et argentariis: sed et ærarios imitatur, et gloriam præfert, quoniam res supervacuas fingit.

10 Cinis est enim cor eius, et terra supervacua spes illius, et luto vilior vita eius:

11 quoniam ignoravit qui se finxit, et qui inspiravit illi animam, quæ operatur, et qui insufflavit ei spiritum vitalem.

12 Sed et æstimaverunt lusum esse vitam nostram, et conversationem vitæ compositam ad lucrum, et oportere undecumque etiam ex malo acquirere.

13 Hic enim scit se super omnes delinquere, qui ex terræ materia fragilia vasa, et sculptilia fingit.

14 Omnes enim insipientes, et infelices supra modum animæ superbi, sunt inimici populi tui, et imperantes illi:

15 quoniam omnia idola nationum deos æstimaverunt, quibus neque oculorum usus est ad videndum, neque nares ad percipiendum spiritum, neque aures ad audiendum, neque digiti manuum ad tractandum, sed et pedes eorum pigri ad ambulandum.

16 Homo enim fecit illos: et qui spiritum mutuatus est, is finxit illos. Nemo enim sibi similem homo poterit Deum fingere.

17 Cum enim sit mortalis, mortuum fingit manibus iniquis. Melior enim est ipse his, quos colit, quia ipse quidem vixit, cum esset mortalis, illi autem numquam.

18 Sed et animalia miserrima colunt: insensata enim comparata his, illis sunt deteriora.

19 Sed nec aspectu aliquis ex his animalibus bona potest conspicere. Effugerunt autem Dei laudem, et benedictionem eius.

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).