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Sirach Chapter 43

Other Translations

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

1 Altitudinis firmamentum pulchritudo eius est, species cæli in visione gloriæ.
2 Sol in aspectu annuncians in exitu, vas admirabile opus excelsi.
3 In meridiano exurit terram, et in conspectu ardoris eius quis poterit sustinere? Fornacem custodiens in operibus ardoris:
4 tripliciter sol exurens montes, radios igneos exsufflans, et refulgens radiis suis obcæcat oculos.
5 Magnus Dominus qui fecit illum, et in sermonibus eius festinavit iter.
6 Et luna in omnibus in tempore suo, ostensio temporis, et signum ævi.
7 A luna signum diei festi, luminare quod minuitur in consummatione.
8 Mensis secundum nomen eius est, crescens mirabiliter in consummatione.
9 Vas castrorum in excelsis, in firmamento cæli resplendens gloriose.
10 Species cæli gloria stellarum, mundum illuminans in excelsis Dominus.
11 In verbis sancti stabunt ad iudicium, et non deficient in vigiliis suis.
12 Vide arcum, et benedic eum, qui fecit illum: valde speciosus est in splendore suo.
13 Gyravit cælum in circuitu gloriæ suæ, manus Excelsi aperuerunt illum.
14 Imperio suo acceleravit nivem, et accelerat coruscationes emittere iudicii sui.
15 Propterea aperti sunt thesauri, et evolaverunt nebulæ sicut aves.
16 In magnitudine sua posuit nubes, et confracti sunt lapides grandinis.
17 In conspectu eius commovebuntur montes, et in voluntate eius aspirabit Notus.
18 Vox tonitrui eius verberavit terram, tempestas aquilonis, et congregatio spiritus:
19 et sicut avis deponens ad sedendum, aspergit nivem, et sicut locusta demergens descensus eius.
20 Pulchritudinem candoris eius admirabitur oculus, et super imbrem eius expavescet cor.
21 Gelu sicut salem effundet super terram: et dum gelaverit, fiet tamquam cacumina tribuli.
22 Frigidus ventus aquilo flavit, et gelavit crystallus ab aqua, super omnem congregationem aquarum requiescet, et sicut lorica induet se aquis.
23 Et devorabit montes, et exuret desertum, et extinguet viride, sicut igne.
24 Medicina omnium in festinatione nebulæ: et ros obvians ab ardore venienti humilem efficiet eum.
25 In sermone eius siluit ventus, et cogitatione sua placavit abyssum, et plantavit in illa Dominus insulas.
26 Qui navigant mare, enarrent pericula eius: et audientes auribus nostris admirabimur.
27 Illic præclara opera, et mirabilia: varia bestiarum genera, et omnium pecorum, et creatura belluarum.
28 Propter ipsum confirmatus est itineris finis, et in sermone eius composita sunt omnia.
29 Multa dicemus, et deficiemus in verbis; consummatio autem sermonum, ipse est in omnibus.
30 Gloriantes ad quid valebimus? ipse enim omnipotens super omnia opera sua.
31 Terribilis Dominus, et magnus vehementer, et mirabilis potentia ipsius.
32 Glorificantes Dominum quantumcumque potueritis, supervalebit enim adhuc, et admirabilis magnificentia eius.
33 Benedicentes Dominum, exaltate illum quantum potestis: maior enim est omni laude.
34 Exaltantes eum replemini virtute. ne laboretis: non enim comprehendetis.
35 Quis videbit eum, et enarrabit? et quis magnificabit eum sicut est ab initio?
36 Multa abscondita sunt maiora his: pauca enim vidimus operum eius.
37 Omnia autem Dominus fecit, et pie agentibus dedit sapientiam.

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).