Wisdom Chapter 6

Other Translations

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

1 Melior est sapientia quam vires: et vir prudens quam fortis.

2 Audite ergo reges, et intelligite, discite iudices finium terræ.

3 Præbete aures vos, qui continetis multitudines, et placetis vobis in turbis nationum:

4 quoniam data est a Domino potestas vobis, et virtus ab Altissimo, qui interrogabit opera vestra, et cogitationes scrutabitur:

5 quoniam cum essetis ministri regni illius, non recte iudicastis nec custodistis legem iustitiæ, neque secundum voluntatem Dei ambulastis.

6 Horrende et cito aparebit vobis: quoniam iudicium durissimum his, qui præsunt, fiet.

7 Exiguo enim conceditur misericordia: potentes autem potenter tormenta patientur.

8 Non enim subtrahet personam cuiusquam Deus, nec verebitur magnitudinem cuiusquam: quoniam pusillum et magnum ipse fecit, et æqualiter cura est illi de omnibus.

9 Fortioribus autem fortior instat cruciatio.

10 Ad vos ergo reges sunt hi sermones mei, ut discatis sapientiam, et non excidatis.

11 Qui enim custodierint iusta iuste, iustificabuntur: et qui didicerint ista, invenient quid respondeant.

12 Concupiscite ergo sermones meos, diligite illos, et habebitis disciplinam.

13 Clara est, et quæ numquam marcescit sapientia, et facile videtur ab his qui diligunt eam, et invenitur ab his qui quærunt illam.

14 Præoccupat qui se concupiscunt, ut illis se prior ostendat.

15 Qui de luce vigilaverit ad illam, non laborabit: assidentem enim illam foribus suis inveniet.

16 Cogitare ergo de illa sensus est consummatus: et qui vigilaverit propter illam, cito securus erit.

17 Quoniam dignos se ipsa circuit quærens, et in viis ostendit se illis hilariter, et in omni providentia occurrit illis.

18 Initium enim illius verissima est disciplinæ concupiscentia.

19 Cura ergo disciplinæ, dilectio est: et dilectio, custodia legum illius est: custoditio autem legum, consummatio incorruptionis est:

20 incorruptio autem facit esse proximum Deo.

21 Concupiscentia itaque sapientiæ deducit ad regnum perpetuum.

22 Si ergo delectamini sedibus, et sceptris o reges populi, diligite sapientiam, ut in perpetuum regnetis.

23 diligite lumen sapientiæ omnes qui præestis populis.

24 quid est autem sapientia, et quemadmodum facta sit referam: et non abscondam a vobis sacramenta Dei, sed ab initio nativitatis investigabo, et ponam in lucem scientiam illius, et non præteribo veritatem:

25 neque cum invidia tabescente iter habebo: quoniam talis homo non erit particeps sapientiæ.

26 Multitudo autem sapientium sanitas est orbis terrarum: et rex sapiens stabilimentum populi est.

27 Ergo accipite disciplinam per sermones meos, et proderit vobis.

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).