Sirach Chapter 29

Other Translations

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

1 Qui facit misericordiam, fœneratur proximo suo: et qui prævalet manu, mandata servat.

2 Fœnerare proximo tuo in tempore necessitatis illius, et iterum redde proximo in tempore suo.

3 Confirma verbum, et fideliter age cum illo: et in omni tempore invenies quod tibi necessarium est.

4 Multi quasi inventionem æstimaverunt fœnus, et præstiterunt molestiam his, qui se adiuverunt.

5 Donec accipiant, osculantur manus dantis, et in promissionibus humiliant vocem suam:

6 et in tempore redditionis postulabit tempus, et loquetur verba tædii et murmurationum, et tempus causabitur:

7 si autem potuerit reddere, adversabitur, solidi vix reddet dimidium, et computabit illud quasi inventionem:

8 sin autem fraudabit illum pecunia sua, et possidebit illum inimicum gratis:

9 et convitia et maledicta reddet illi, et pro honore et beneficio reddet illi contumeliam.

10 Multi non causa nequitiæ non fœnerati sunt, sed fraudari gratis timuerunt.

11 Verumtamen super humilem animo fortior esto, et pro eleemosyna non trahas illum.

12 Propter mandatum assume pauperem: et propter inopiam eius ne dimittas eum vacuum.

13 Perde pecuniam propter fratrem et amicum tuum: et non abscondas illam sub lapide in perditionem.

14 Pone thesaurum tuum in præceptis Altissimi, et proderit tibi magis quam aurum.

15 Conclude eleemosynam in corde pauperis, et hæc pro te exorabit ab omni malo.

16 Super scutum potentis, et super lanceam

17 adversus inimicum tuum pugnabit.

18 Vir bonus fidem facit pro proximo suo: et qui perdiderit confusionem, derelinquet sibi.

19 Gratiam fideiussoris ne obliviscaris: dedit enim pro te animam suam.

20 Repromissorem fugit peccator et immundus.

21 Bona repromissoris sibi ascribit peccator: et ingratus sensu derelinquet liberantem se.

22 Vir repromittit de proximo suo: et cum perdiderit reverentiam, derelinquetur ab eo.

23 Repromissio nequissima multos perdidit dirigentes, et commovit illos quasi fluctus maris.

24 Viros potentes gyrans migrare fecit, et vagati sunt in gentibus alienis.

25 Peccator transgrediens mandatum Domini incidet in promissionem nequam: et qui conatur multa agere, incidet in iudicium.

26 Recupera proximum secundum virtutem tuam, et attende tibi ne incidas.

27 Initium vitæ hominis aqua et panis, et vestimentum, et domus protegens turpitudinem.

28 Melior est victus pauperis sub tegmine asserum, quam epulæ splendidæ in peregre sine domicilio.

29 Minimum pro magno placeat tibi, et improperium peregrinationis non audies.

30 Vita nequam hospitandi de domo in domum: et ubi hospitabitur, non fiducialiter aget, nec aperiet os.

31 Hospitabitur, et pascet, et potabit ingratos, et ad hæc amara audiet.

32 Transi hospes, et orna mensam: et quæ in manu habes, ciba ceteros.

33 Exi a facie honoris amicorum meorum: necessitudine domus meæ hospitio mihi factus est frater.

34 Gravia hæc homini habenti sensum: Correptio domus, et improperium fœneratoris.

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).