Wisdom Chapter 3

Other Translations

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

1 Iustorum autem animæ in manu Dei sunt, et non tangent illos tormentum mortis.

2 Visi sunt oculis insipientium mori: et æstimata est afflictio exitus illorum:

3 et quod a nobis est iter, exterminium: illi autem sunt in pace.

4 Et si coram hominibus tormenta passi sunt, spes illorum immortalitate plena est.

5 In paucis vexati, in multis bene disponentur: quoniam Deus tentavit eos, et invenit illos dignos se.

6 Tamquam aurum in fornace probavit illos, et quasi holocausti hostiam accepit illos, et in tempore erit respectus illorum.

7 Fulgebunt iusti et tamquam scintillæ in arundineto discurrent.

8 Iudicabunt nationes, et dominabuntur populis, et regnabit Dominus illorum in perpetuum.

9 Qui confidunt in illo, intelligent veritatem: et fideles in dilectione acquiescent illi: quoniam donum et pax est electis eius.

10 Impii autem secundum quæ cogitaverunt, correptionem habebunt: qui neglexerunt iustum, et a Domino recesserunt.

11 Sapientiam enim, et disciplinam qui abiicit, infelix est: et vacua est spes illorum, et labores sine fructu, et inutilia opera eorum.

12 Mulieres eorum insensatæ sunt, et nequissimi filii eorum.

13 Maledicta creatura eorum, quoniam felix est sterilis: et incoinquinata, quæ nescivit thorum in delicto, habebit fructum in respectione animarum sanctarum:

14 et spado, qui non operatus est per manus suas iniquitatem, nec cogitavit adversus Deum nequissima: dabitur enim illi fidei donum electum, et sors in templo Dei acceptissima.

15 Bonorum enim laborum gloriosus est fructus, et quæ non concidat radix sapientiæ.

16 Filii autem adulterorum in inconsummatione erunt, et ab iniquo thoro semen exterminabitur.

17 Et si quidem longæ vitæ erunt, in nihilum computabuntur, et sine honore erit novissima senectus illorum.

18 Et si celerius defuncti fuerint, non habebunt spem, nec in die agnitionis allocutionem.

19 Nationis enim iniquæ diræ sunt consummationes.

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).