Sirach Chapter 8

Other Translations

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

1 Non litiges cum homine potente, ne forte incidas in manus illius.

2 Non contendas cum viro locuplete, ne forte contra te constituat litem tibi.

3 multos enim perdidit aurum et argentum, et usque ad cor regum extendit, et convertit.

4 Non litiges cum homine linguato, et non strues in ignem illius ligna.

5 Non communices homini indocto, ne male de progenie tua loquatur.

6 Ne despicias hominem avertentem se a peccato, neque improperes ei. memento quoniam omnes in correptione sumus.

7 Ne spernas hominem in sua senectute: etenim ex nobis senescunt.

8 Noli de mortuo inimico tuo gaudere: sciens quoniam omnes morimur, et in gaudium nolumus venire.

9 Ne despicias narrationem presbyterorum sapientium, et in proverbiis eorum conversare.

10 ab ipsis enim disces sapientiam, et doctrinam intellectus, et servire magnatis sine querela.

11 Non te prætereat narratio seniorum: ipsi enim didicerunt a patribus suis:

12 quoniam ab ipsis disces intellectum, et in tempore necessitatis dare responsum.

13 Non incendas carbones peccatorum arguens eos, et ne incendaris flamma ignis peccatorum illorum.

14 Ne contra faciem stes contumeliosi, ne sedeat quasi insidiator ori tuo.

15 Noli fœnerari homini fortiori te: quod si fœneraveris, quasi perditum habe.

16 Non spondeas super virtutem tuam: quod si spoponderis, quasi restituens cogita.

17 Non iudices contra iudicem: quoniam secundum quod iustum est iudicat.

18 Cum audace non eas in via, ne forte gravet mala sua in te: ipse enim secundum voluntatem suam vadit, et simul cum stultitia illius peries.

19 Cum iracundo non facias rixam, et cum audace non eas in desertum: quoniam quasi nihil est ante illum sanguis, et ubi non est adiutorium, elidet te.

20 Cum fatuis consilium non habeas: non enim poterunt diligere nisi quæ eis placent.

21 Coram extraneo ne facias consilium: nescis enim quid pariet.

22 Non omni homini cor tuum manifestes: ne forte inferat tibi gratiam falsam, et convicietur tibi.

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).