Sirach Chapter 31

Other Translations

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

1 Vigilia honestatis tabefaciet carnes, et cogitatus illius auferet somnum.

2 Cogitatus præscientiæ avertit sensum, et infirmitas gravis sobriam facit animam.

3 Laboravit dives in congregatione substantiæ, et in requie sua replebitur bonis suis.

4 Laboravit pauper in diminutione victus, et in fine inops fit.

5 Qui aurum diligit, non iustificabitur: et qui insequitur consumptionem replebitur ex ea.

6 Multi dati sunt in auri casus, et facta est in specie ipsius perditio illorum.

7 Lignum offensionis est aurum sacrificantium: væ illis, qui sectantur illud, et omnis imprudens deperiet in illo.

8 Beatus dives, qui inventus est sine macula: et qui post aurum non abiit, nec speravit in pecunia, et thesauris.

9 Quis est hic, et laudabimus eum? fecit enim mirabilia in vita sua.

10 Qui probatus est in illo, et perfectus est, erit illi gloria æterna: qui potuit transgredi, et non est transgressus: facere mala, et non fecit:

11 ideo stabilita sunt bona illius in Domino, et eleemosynas illius enarrabit omnis Ecclesia sanctorum.

12 Supra mensam magnam sedisti? non aperias super illam faucem tuam prior.

13 Non dicas sic: Multa sunt, quæ super illam sunt:

14 memento quoniam malus est oculus nequam.

15 Nequius oculo quid creatum est? ideo ab omni facie sua lacrymabitur. cum viderit,

16 ne extendas manum tuam prior, et invidia contaminatus erubescas.

17 Ne comprimaris in convivio.

18 Intellige quæ sunt proximi tui ex teipso:

19 utere quasi homo frugi his, quæ tibi apponuntur: ne, cum manducas multum, odio habearis.

20 Cessa prior causa disciplinæ: et noli nimius esse, ne forte offendas.

21 Et si in medio multorum sedisti, prior illis ne extendas manum tuam, nec prior poscas bibere.

22 Quam sufficens est homini eruditio vinum exiguum, et in dormiendo non laborabis ab illo, et non senties dolorem.

23 Vigilia, cholera, et tortura viro infrunito:

24 somnus sanitatis in homine parco. dormiet usque mane, et anima illius cum ipso delectabitur.

25 Et si coactus fueris in edendo multum, surge e medio, evome: et refrigerabit te, et non adduces corpori tuo infirmitatem.

26 Audi me fili, et ne spernas me: et in novissimo invenies verba mea.

27 In omnibus operibus tuis esto velox, et omnis infirmitas non occurret tibi.

28 Splendidum in panibus benedicent labia multorum, et testimonium veritatis illius fidele.

29 Nequissimo in pane murmurabit civitas, et testimonium nequitiæ illius verum est.

30 Diligentes in vino noli provocare: multos enim exterminavit vinum.

31 Ignis probat ferrum durum: sic vinum corda superborum arguet in ebrietate potatum.

32 Æqua vita hominibus vinum in sobrietate: si bibas illud moderate, eris sobrius.

33 Quæ vita est ei, qui minuitur vino?

34 Quid defraudat vitam? Mors.

35 Vinum in iucunditatem creatum est, et non in ebrietatem, ab initio.

36 Exultatio animæ et cordis vinum moderate potatum.

37 Sanitas est animæ et corpori sobrius potus.

38 Vinum multum potatum irritationem, et iram, et ruinas multas facit.

39 Amaritudo animæ vinum multum potatum.

40 Ebrietatis animositas, imprudentis offensio, minorans virtutem, et faciens vulnera.

41 In convivio vini non arguas proximum: et non despicias eum in iucunditate illius:

42 verba improperii non dicas illi: et non premas illum repetendo.

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).