Wisdom Chapter 2

Other Translations

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

1 Dixerunt enim cogitantes apud se non recte: Exiguum, et cum tædio est tempus vitæ nostræ, et non est refrigerium in fine hominis, et non est qui agnitus sit reversus ab inferis:

2 quia ex nihilo nati sumus, et post hoc erimus tamquam non fuerimus: quoniam fumus flatus est in naribus nostris: et sermo scintilla ad commovendum cor nostrum:

3 qua extincta, cinis erit corpus nostrum, et spiritus diffundetur tamquam mollis aer, et transibit vita nostra tamquam vestigium nubis, et sicut nebula dissolvetur quæ fugata est a radiis solis, et a calore illius aggravata:

4 et nomen nostrum oblivionem accipiet per tempus, et nemo memoriam habebit operum nostrorum.

5 Umbræ enim transitus est tempus nostrum, et non est reversio finis nostri: quoniam consignata est, et nemo revertitur.

6 Venite ergo, et fruamur bonis quæ sunt, et utamur creatura tamquam in iuventute celeriter.

7 Vino pretioso et unguentis nos impleamus: et non prætereat nos flos temporis.

8 Coronemus nos rosis antequam marcescant: nullum pratum sit, quod non pertranseat luxuria nostra.

9 Nemo nostrum exors sit luxuriæ nostræ: ubique relinquamus signa lætitiæ: quoniam hæc est pars nostra, et hæc est sors.

10 Opprimamus pauperem iustum, et non parcamus viduæ, nec veterani revereamur canos multi temporis.

11 Sit autem fortitudo nostra lex iustitiæ: quod enim infirmum est, inutile invenitur.

12 Circumveniamus ergo iustum, quoniam inutilis est nobis, et contrarius est operibus nostris, et improperat nobis peccata legis, et diffamat in nos peccata disciplinæ nostræ.

13 Promittit se scientiam Dei habere, et filium Dei se nominat.

14 Factus est nobis in traductionem cogitationum nostrarum.

15 Gravis est nobis etiam ad videndum, quoniam dissimilis est aliis vita illius, et immutatæ sunt viæ eius.

16 Tamquam nugaces æstimati sumus ab illo, et abstinet se a viis nostris tamquam ab immunditiis, et præfert novissima iustorum, et gloriatur patrem se habere Deum.

17 Videamus ergo si sermones illius veri sint, et tentemus quæ ventura sunt illi, et sciemus quæ erunt novissima illius.

18 Si enim est verus filius Dei, suscipiet illum, et liberabit eum de manibus contrariorum.

19 Contumelia et tormento interrogemus eum, ut sciamus reverentiam eius, et probemus patientiam illius.

20 Morte turpissima condemnemus eum: erit enim ei respectus ex sermonibus illius.

21 Hæc cogitaverunt, et erraverunt: excæcavit enim illos malitia eorum.

22 Et nescierunt sacramenta Dei, neque mercedem speraverunt iustitiæ, nec iudicaverunt honorem animarum sanctarum.

23 Quoniam Deus creavit hominem inexterminabilem, et ad imaginem similitudinis suæ fecit illum.

24 Invidia autem diaboli mors introivit in orbem terrarum:

25 imitantur autem illum qui sunt ex parte illius.

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).