Wisdom Chapter 4

Other Translations

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

1 O quam pulchra est casta generatio cum claritate: immortalis est enim memoria illius: quoniam et apud Deum nota est, et apud homines.

2 Cum præsens est, imitantur illam: et desiderant eam cum se eduxerit, et in perpetuum coronata triumphat incoinquinatorum certaminum præmium vincens.

3 Multigena autem impiorum multitudo non erit utilis, et spuria vitulamina non dabunt radices altas, nec stabile firmamentum collocabunt.

4 Et si in ramis in tempore germinaverint, infirmiter posita, a vento commovebuntur, et a nimietate ventorum eradicabuntur.

5 Confringentur enim rami inconsummati, et fructus illorum inutiles, et acerbi ad manducandum, et ad nihilum apti.

6 Ex iniquis enim somnis filii qui nascuntur, testes sunt nequitiæ adversus parentes in interrogatione sua.

7 Iustus autem si morte præoccupatus fuerit, in refrigerio erit.

8 Senectus enim venerabilis est non diuturna, neque annorum numero computata: cani autem sunt sensus hominis,

9 et ætas senectutis vita immaculata.

10 Placens Deo factus est dilectus, et vivens inter peccatores translatus est.

11 raptus est ne malitia mutaret intellectum eius, aut ne fictio deciperet animam illius.

12 Fascinatio enim nugacitatis obscurat bona, et inconstantia concupiscentiæ transvertit sensum sine malitia.

13 Consummatus in brevi explevit tempora multa:

14 placita enim erat Deo anima illius: propter hoc properavit educere illum de medio iniquitatum: populi autem videntes, et non intelligentes, nec ponentes in præcordiis talia:

15 quoniam gratia Dei, et misericordia est in sanctos eius, et respectus in electos illius.

16 Condemnat autem iustus mortuus vivos impios, et iuventus celerius consummata longam vitam iniusti.

17 Videbunt enim finem sapientis, et non intelligent quid cogitaverit de illo Deus, et quare munierit illum Dominus.

18 Videbunt et contemnent eum: illos autem Dominus irridebit.

19 et erunt post hæc decidentes sine honore, et in contumelia inter mortuos in perpetuum: quoniam disrumpet illos inflatos sine voce, et commovebit illos a fundamentis et usque ad supremum desolabuntur: et erunt gementes, et memoria illorum peribit.

20 Venient in cogitatione peccatorum suorum timidi, et traducent illos ex adverso iniquitates ipsorum.

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).