Sirach Chapter 42

Other Translations

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

1 Non duplices sermonem auditus de revelatione sermonis absconditi, et eris vere sine confusione, et invenies gratiam in conspectu omnium hominum: ne pro his omnibus confundaris, et ne accipias personam ut delinquas.

2 De lege Altissimi, et testamento, et de iudicio iustificare impium,

3 de verbo sociorum et viatorum, et de datione hereditatis amicorum,

4 de æqualitate stateræ et ponderum, de acquisitione multorum et paucorum,

5 de corruptione emptionis, et negotiatorum, et de multa disciplina filiorum, et servo pessimo latus sanguinare.

6 Super mulierem nequam bonum est signum.

7 Ubi manus multæ sunt, claude, et quodcumque trades, numera, et appende: datum vero, et acceptum omne describe.

8 De disciplina insensati et fatui, et de senioribus, qui iudicantur ab adolescentibus: et eris eruditus in omnibus, et probabilis in conspectu omnium vivorum.

9 Filia patris abscondita est vigilia, et solicitudo eius aufert somnum, ne forte in adolescentia sua adulta efficiatur, et cum viro commorata odibilis fiat:

10 nequando polluatur in virginitate sua, et in paternis suis gravida inveniatur: ne forte cum viro commorata transgrediatur, aut certe sterilis efficiatur.

11 Super filiam luxuriosam confirma custodiam: ne quando faciat te in opprobrium venire inimicis, a detractione in civitate, et obiectione plebis, et confundat te in multitudine populi.

12 Omni homini noli intendere in specie: et in medio mulierum noli commorari:

13 de vestimentis enim procedit tinea, et a muliere iniquitas viri.

14 Melior est enim iniquitas viri, quam mulier benefaciens, et mulier confundens in opprobrium.

15 Memor ero igitur operum Domini, et quæ vidi annunciabo. In sermonibus Domini opera eius.

16 Sol illuminans per omnia respexit, et gloria Domini plenum est opus eius.

17 Nonne Dominus fecit sanctos enarrare omnia mirabilia sua, quæ confirmavit Dominus omnipotens stabiliri in gloria sua?

18 Abyssum, et cor hominum investigavit: et in astutia eorum excogitavit.

19 Cognovit enim Dominus omnem scientiam, et inspexit in signum ævi, annuncians quæ præterierunt, et quæ superventura sunt, revelans vestigia occultorum.

20 Non præterit illum omnis cogitatus, et non abscondit se ab eo ullus sermo.

21 Magnalia sapientiæ suæ decoravit: qui est ante sæculum et usque in sæculum, neque adiectum est,

22 neque minuitur, et non eget alicuius consilio.

23 Quam desiderabilia omnia opera eius, et tamquam scintilla, quæ est considerare!

24 Omnia hæc vivunt, et manent in sæculum, et in omni necessitate omnia obaudiunt ei.

25 Omnia duplicia, unum contra unum, et non fecit quidquam deesse.

26 Uniuscuiusque confirmavit bona. Et quis satiabitur videns gloriam eius?

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).