Sirach Chapter 14

Other Translations

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

1 Beatus vir, qui non est lapsus verbo ex ore suo, et non est stimulatus in tristitia delicti.

2 Felix, qui non habuit animi sui tristitiam, et non excidit a spe sua.

3 Viro cupido et tenaci sine ratione est substantia, et homini livido ad quid aurum?

4 Qui acervat ex animo suo iniuste, aliis congregat, et in bonis illius alius luxuriabitur.

5 Qui sibi nequam est, cui alii bonus erit? et non iucundabitur in bonis suis.

6 Qui sibi invidet, nihil est illo nequius, et hæc redditio est malitiæ illius:

7 et si bene fecerit, ignoranter, et non volens facit: et in novissimo manifestat malitiam suam.

8 Nequam est oculus lividi, et avertens faciem suam, et despiciens animam suam.

9 Insatiabilis oculus cupidi in parte iniquitatis: non satiabitur donec consumat arefaciens animam suam.

10 Oculus malus ad mala: et non saturabitur pane, sed indigens et in tristitia erit super mensam suam.

11 Fili si habes, benefac tecum, et Deo dignas oblationes offer.

12 Memor esto quoniam mors non tardat, et testamentum inferorum quia demonstratum est tibi: testamentum enim huius mundi morte morietur.

13 Ante mortem benefac amico tuo, et secundum vires tuas exporrigens da pauperi.

14 Non defrauderis a die bono, et particula boni doni non te prætereat.

15 Nonne aliis relinques dolores et labores tuos in divisione sortis?

16 Da, et accipe, et iustifica animam tuam.

17 Ante obitum tuum operare iustitiam: quoniam non est apud inferos invenire cibum.

18 Omnis caro sicut fœnum veterascet, et sicut folium fructificans in arbore viridi.

19 Alia generantur, et alia deiiciuntur: sic generatio carnis et sanguinis, alia finitur, et alia nascitur.

20 Omne opus corruptibile in fine deficiet: et qui illud operatur, ibit cum illo.

21 Et omne opus electum iustificabitur: et qui operatur illud, honorabitur in illo.

22 Beatus vir, qui in sapientia morabitur, et qui in iustitia sua meditabitur, et in sensu cogitabit circumspectionem Dei.

23 Qui excogitat vias illius in corde suo, et in absconditis suis intelligens, vadens post illam quasi investigator, et in viis illius consistens:

24 qui respicit per fenestras illius, et in ianuis illius audiens:

25 qui requiescit iuxta domum illius, et in parietibus illius figens palum statuet casulam suam ad manus illius, et requiescent in casula illius bona per ævum:

26 statuet filios suos sub tegmine illius, et sub ramis eius morabitur.

27 protegetur sub tegmine illius a fervore, et in gloria eius requiescet.

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).