Wisdom Chapter 7

Other Translations

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

1 Sum quidem et ego mortalis homo, similis omnibus, et ex genere terreni illius, qui prior factus est, et in ventre matris figuratus sum caro,

2 decem mensium tempore coagulatus sum in sanguine, ex semine hominis, et delectamento somni conveniente.

3 Et ego natus accepi communem aerem, et in similiter factam decidi terram, et primam vocem similem omnibus emisi plorans.

4 in involumentis nutritus sum, et curis magnis.

5 Nemo enim ex regibus aliud habuit nativitatis initium.

6 Unus ergo introitus est omnibus ad vitam, et similis exitus.

7 Propter hoc optavi, et datus est mihi sensus: et invocavi, et venit in me spiritus sapientiæ:

8 et præposui illam regnis et sedibus, et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius.

9 nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum: quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius, arena est exigua, et tamquam lutum æstimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.

10 Super salutem et speciem dilexi illam, et proposui pro luce habere illam: quoniam inextinguibile est lumen illius.

11 Venerunt autem mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa, et innumerabilis honestas per manus illius,

12 et lætatus sum in omnibus: quoniam antecedebat me ista sapientia, et ignorabam quoniam horum omnium mater est.

13 Quam sine fictione didici, et sine invidia communico, et honestatem illius non abscondo.

14 Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus: quo qui usi sunt, participes facti sunt amicitiæ Dei, propter disciplinæ dona commendati.

15 Mihi autem dedit Deus dicere ex sententia, et præsumere digna horum, quæ mihi dantur: quoniam ipse sapientiæ dux est, et sapientium emendator:

16 in manu enim illius et nos, et sermones nostri, et omnis sapientia, et operum scientia et disciplina.

17 Ipse enim dedit mihi horum, quæ sunt, scientiam veram: ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum, et virtutes elementorum,

18 initium, et consummationem, et medietatem temporum, vicissitudinum permutationes, et commutationes temporum,

19 anni cursus, et stellarum dispositiones,

20 naturas animalium, et iras bestiarum, vim ventorum, et cogitationes hominum, differentias virgultorum, et virtutes radicum,

21 et quæcumque sunt absconsa et improvisa, didici: omnium enim artifex docuit me sapientia.

22 est enim in illa spiritus intelligentiæ, sanctus, unicus, multiplex, subtilis, disertus, mobilis, incoinquinatus, certus, suavis, amans bonum, acutus, quem nihil vetat, benefaciens,

23 humanus, benignus, stabilis, certus, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens, et qui capiat omnes spiritus: intelligibilis, mundus, subtilis.

24 Omnibus enim mobilibus mobilior est sapientia: attingit autem ubique propter suam munditiam.

25 Vapor est enim virtutis Dei, et emanatio quædam est claritatis omnipotentis Dei sincera: et ideo nihil inquinatum in eam incurrit.

26 candor est enim lucis æternæ, et speculum sine macula Dei maiestatis, et imago bonitatis illius.

27 Et cum sit una, omnia potest: et in se permanens omnia innovat, et per nationes in animas sanctas se transfert, amicos Dei et prophetas constituit.

28 Neminem enim diligit Deus, nisi eum, qui cum sapientia inhabitat.

29 Est enim hæc speciosior sole, et super omnem dispositionem stellarum, luci comparata invenitur prior.

30 Illi enim succedit nox, sapientiam autem non vincit malitia.

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).