Wisdom Chapter 5

Other Translations

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

1 Tunc stabunt iusti in magna constantia adversus eos, qui se angustiaverunt, et qui abstulerunt labores eorum.

2 Videntes turbabuntur timore horribili, et mirabuntur in subitatione insperatæ salutis,

3 dicentes intra se, pœnitentiam agentes, et præ angustia spiritus gementes. Hi sunt, quos habuimus aliquando in derisum, et in similitudinem improperii.

4 Nos insensati vitam illorum æstimabamus insaniam, et finem illorum sine honore:

5 ecce quomodo computati sunt inter filios Dei, et inter sanctos sors illorum est.

6 Ergo erravimus a via veritatis, et iustitiæ lumen non luxit nobis, et Sol intelligentiæ non est ortus nobis.

7 Lassati sumus in via iniquitatis et perditionis, et ambulavimus vias difficiles, viam autem Domini ignoravimus.

8 Quid nobis profuit superbia? aut divitiarum iactantia quid contulit nobis?

9 Transierunt omnia illa tamquam umbra, et tamquam nuncius percurrens,

10 et tamquam navis, quæ pertransit fluctuantem aquam: cuius, cum præterierit, non est vestigium invenire, neque semitam carinæ illius in fluctibus:

11 aut tamquam avis, quæ transvolat in aere, cuius nullum invenitur argumentum itineris, sed tantum sonitus alarum verberans levem ventum: et scindens per vim itineris aerem: commotis alis transvolavit, et post hoc nullum signum invenitur itineris illius:

12 aut tamquam sagitta emissa in locum destinatum, divisus aer continuo in se reclusus est, ut ignoretur transitus illius:

13 sic et nos nati continuo desivimus esse: et virtutis quidem nullum signum valuimus ostendere: in malignitate autem nostra consumpti sumus.

14 Talia dixerunt in inferno hi, qui peccaverunt:

15 quoniam spes impii tamquam lanugo est, quæ a vento tollitur: et tamquam spuma gracilis, quæ a procella dispergitur: et tamquam fumus, qui a vento diffusus est: et tamquam memoria hospitis unius diei prætereuntis.

16 Iusti autem in perpetuum vivent, et apud Dominum est merces eorum, et cogitatio illorum apud Altissimum.

17 Ideo accipient regnum decoris, et diadema speciei de manu Domini: quoniam dextera sua teget eos, et brachio sancto suo defendet illos.

18 Accipiet armaturam zelus illius, et armabit creaturam ad ultionem inimicorum.

19 Induet pro thorace iustitiam, et accipiet pro galea iudicium certum.

20 sumet scutum inexpugnabile æquitatem:

21 acuet autem duram iram in lanceam, et pugnabit cum illo orbis terrarum contra insensatos.

22 Ibunt directe emissiones fulgurum, et tamquam a bene curvato arcu nubium exterminabuntur, et ad certum locum insilient.

23 Et a petrosa ira plenæ mittentur grandines, excandescet in illos aqua maris, et flumina concurrent duriter.

24 Contra illos stabit spiritus virtutis, et tamquam turbo venti dividet illos: et ad eremum perducet omnem terram iniquitas illorum, et malignitas evertet sedes potentium.

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).