Wisdom Chapter 16

Other Translations

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

1 Propter hæc, et per his similia passi sunt digne tormenta, et per multitudinem bestiarum exterminati sunt.

2 Pro quibus tormentis bene disposuisti populum tuum, quibus dedisti concupiscentiam delectamenti sui novum saporem, escam parans eis ortygometram:

3 ut illi quidem concupiscentes escam propter ea, quæ illis ostensa et missa sunt, etiam a necessaria concupiscentia averterentur. Hi autem in brevi inopes facti, novam gustaverunt escam.

4 Oportebat enim illis sine excusatione quidem supervenire interitum exercentibus tyrannidem: his autem tantum ostendere quemadmodum inimici eorum exterminabantur.

5 Etenim cum illis supervenit sæva bestiarum ira, morsibus perversorum colubrorum exterminabantur.

6 Sed non in perpetuum ira tua permansit, sed ad correptionem in brevi turbati sunt, signum habentes salutis ad commemorationem mandati legis tuæ.

7 Qui enim conversus est, non per hoc, quod videbat, sanabatur, sed per te omnium salvatorem:

8 in hoc autem ostendisti inimicis nostris, quia tu es, qui liberas ab omni malo.

9 Illos enim locustarum, et muscarum occiderunt morsus, et non est inventa sanitas animæ illorum: quia digni erant ab huiusmodi exterminari.

10 Filios autem tuos, nec draconum venenatorum vicerunt dentes: misericordia enim tua adveniens sanabat illos.

11 In memoria enim sermonum tuorum examinabantur, et velociter salvabantur, ne in altam incidentes oblivionem, non possent tuo uti adiutorio.

12 Etenim neque herba, neque malagma sanavit eos, sed tuus, Domine, sermo, qui sanat omnia.

13 Tu es enim, Domine, qui vitæ et mortis habes potestatem, et deducis ad portas mortis, et reducis:

14 homo autem occidit quidem per malitiam, et cum exierit spiritus, non revertetur, nec revocabit animam quæ recepta est:

15 sed tuam manum effugere impossibile est.

16 Negantes enim te nosse impii, per fortitudinem brachii tui flagellati sunt: novis aquis, et grandinibus, et pluviis persecutionem passi, et per ignem consumpti.

17 Quod enim mirabile erat, in aqua, quæ omnia extinguit, plus ignis valebat: vindex est enim orbis iustorum.

18 Quodam enim tempore, mansuetabatur ignis, ne comburerentur quæ ad impios missa erant animalia: sed ut ipsi videntes scirent, quoniam Dei iudicio patiuntur persecutionem.

19 Et quodam tempore in aqua supra virtutem ignis, exardescebat undique, ut iniquæ terræ nationem exterminaret.

20 Pro quibus angelorum esca nutrivisti populum tuum, et paratum panem de cælo præstitisti illis sine labore, omne delectamentum in se habentem, et omnis saporis suavitatem.

21 Substantia enim tua dulcedinem tuam, quam in filios habes, ostendebat: et deserviens uniuscuiusque voluntati, ad quod quisque volebat, convertebatur.

22 Nix autem et glacies sustinebant vim ignis, et non tabescebant: ut scirent quoniam fructus inimicorum exterminabat ignis ardens in grandine et pluvia coruscans.

23 Hic autem iterum ut nutrirentur iusti, etiam suæ virtutis oblitus est.

24 Creatura enim tibi Factori deserviens, exardescit in tormentum adversus iniustos: et lenior fit ad benefaciendum pro his, qui in te confidunt.

25 Propter hoc et tunc in omnia transfigurata omnium nutrici gratiæ tuæ deserviebat, ad voluntatem eorum, qui a te desiderabant:

26 ut scirent filii tui, quos dilexisti Domine, quoniam non nativitatis fructus pascunt homines, sed sermo tuus hos, qui in te crediderint, conservat.

27 Quod enim ab igne non poterat exterminari, statim ab exiguo radio solis calefactum tabescebat:

28 ut notum omnibus esset, quoniam oportet prævenire solem ad benedictionem tuam, et ad ortum lucis te adorare.

29 Ingrati enim spes tamquam hybernalis glacies tabescet, et disperiet tamquam aqua supervacua.

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).