Sirach Chapter 12

Other Translations

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

1 Si benefeceris, scito cui feceris, et erit gratia in bonis tuis multa.

2 Benefac iusto, et invenies retributionem magnam: et si non ab ipso, certe a Domino.

3 Non est enim ei bene qui assiduus est in malis, et eleemosynas non danti: quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores, et misertus est pœnitentibus.

4 Da misericordi, et ne suscipias peccatorem: et impiis et peccatoribus reddet vindictam, custodiens eos in diem vindictæ.

5 Da bono, et non receperis peccatorem.

6 Benefac humili, et non dederis impio: prohibe panes illi dari ne in ipsis potentior te sit:

7 nam duplicia mala invenies in omnibus bonis, quæcumque feceris illi: quoniam et Altissimus odio habet peccatores, et impiis reddet vindictam.

8 Non agnoscetur in bonis amicus, et non abscondetur in malis inimicus.

9 In bonis viri, inimici illius in tristitia: et in malitia illius, amicus agnitus est.

10 Non credas inimico tuo in æternum: sicut enim æramentum, æruginat nequitia illius:

11 et si humiliatus vadat curvus, adiice animum tuum, et custodi te ab illo.

12 Non statuas illum penes te, nec sedeat ad dexteram tuam, ne forte conversus in locum tuum, inquirat cathedram tuam: et in novissimo agnosces verba mea, et in sermonibus meis stimuleris.

13 Quis miserebitur incantatori a serpente percusso, et omnibus, qui appropiant bestiis? et sic qui comitatur cum viro iniquo, et obvolutus est in peccatis eius.

14 Una hora tecum permanebit: si autem declinaveris, non supportabit.

15 In labiis suis indulcat inimicus, et in corde suo insidiatur ut subvertat te in foveam.

16 In oculis suis lacrymatur inimicus: et si invenerit tempus, non satiabitur sanguine:

17 et si incurrerint tibi mala, invenies eum illic priorem.

18 In oculis suis lacrymatur inimicus, et quasi adiuvans suffodiet plantas tuas.

19 Caput suum movebit, et plaudet manu, et multa susurrans commutabit vultum suum.

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).