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Sirach Chapter 33

Other Translations

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

1 Timenti Dominum non occurrent mala, sed in tentatione Deus illum conservabit, et liberabit a malis.
2 Sapiens non odit mandata et iustitias, et non illidetur quasi in procella navis.
3 Homo sensatus credit legi Dei, et lex illi fidelis.
4 Qui interrogationem manifestat, parabit verbum, et sic deprecatus exaudietur, et conservabit disciplinam, et tunc respondebit.
5 Præcordia fatui quasi rota carri: et quasi axis versatilis cogitatus illius.
6 Equus emissarius, sic et amicus subsannator, sub omni suprasedente hinnit.
7 Quare dies diem superat, et iterum lux lucem, et annus annum a sole?
8 A Domini scientia separati sunt, facto sole, et præceptum custodiente.
9 Et immutavit tempora, et dies festos ipsorum, et in illis dies festos celebraverunt ad horam.
10 Ex ipsis exaltavit et magnificavit Deus, et ex ipsis posuit in numerum dierum. Et omnes homines de solo, et ex terra, unde creatus est Adam.
11 In multitudine disciplinæ Dominus separavit eos, et immutavit vias eorum.
12 Ex ipsis benedixit, et exaltavit: et ex ipsis sanctificavit, et ad se applicavit: et ex ipsis maledixit, et humiliavit, et convertit illos a separatione ipsorum.
13 Quasi lutum figuli in manu ipsius, plasmare illud et disponere.
14 Omnes viæ eius secundum dispositionem eius: sic homo in manu illius, qui se fecit, et reddet illi secundum iudicium suum.
15 Contra malum bonum est, et contra mortem vita: sic et contra virum iustum peccator. Et sic intuere in omnia opera Altissimi. Duo et duo, et unum contra unum.
16 Et ego novissimus evigilavi, et quasi qui colligit acinos post vindemiatores.
17 In benedictione Dei et ipse speravi: et quasi qui vindemiat, replevi torcular.
18 Respicite quoniam non mihi soli laboravi, sed omnibus exquirentibus disciplinam.
19 Audite me magnates, et omnes populi, et rectores Ecclesiæ auribus percipite.
20 Filio et mulieri, fratri et amico non des potestatem super te in vita tua: et non dederis alii possessionem tuam: ne forte pœniteat te, et depreceris pro illis.
21 Dum adhuc superes et aspiras, non immutabit te omnis caro.
22 Melius est enim ut filii tui te rogent, quam te respicere in manus filiorum tuorum.
23 In omnibus operibus tuis præcellens esto.
24 Ne dederis maculam in gloria tua. In die consummationis dierum vitæ tuæ, et in tempore exitus tui distribue hereditatem tuam.
25 Cibaria, et virga, et onus asino: panis, et disciplina, et opus servo.
26 Operatur in disciplina, et quærit requiescere: laxa manus illi, et quærit libertatem.
27 Iugum et lorum curvant collum durum, et servum inclinant operationes assiduæ.
28 Servo malevolo tortura et compedes, mitte illum in operationem, ne vacet:
29 multam enim malitiam docuit otiositas.
30 In opera constitue eum: sic enim condecet illum. Quod si non obaudierit, curva illum compedibus, et non amplifices super omnem carnem: verum sine iudicio nihil facias grave.
31 Si est tibi servus fidelis, sit tibi quasi anima tua: quasi fratrem sic eum tracta: quoniam in sanguine animæ comparasti illum.
32 Si læseris eum iniuste, in fugam convertetur:
33 et si extollens discesserit: quem quæras, et in qua via quæras illum, nescis.

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).