Wisdom 11:22-12:2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
22 Indeed, before you the whole universe is like a grain from a balance,[a]
or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.(A)
23 [b]But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things;
and you overlook sins for the sake of repentance.(B)
24 For you love all things that are
and loathe nothing that you have made;
for you would not fashion what you hate.(C)
25 How could a thing remain, unless you willed it;
or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?(D)
26 But you spare all things, because they are yours,
O Ruler and Lover of souls,(E)
1 for your imperishable spirit is in all things!(F)
Chapter 12
2 Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,
warn them, and remind them of the sins they are committing,
that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, Lord!
Footnotes
- 11:22 Grain from a balance: a tiny particle used for weighing on sensitive scales.
- 11:23 The combination of divine mercy and power is an unusual paradox, but cf. 12:15–18; Ps 62:12–13; Sir 2:18. The main emphasis is on a creating that is motivated by love; the divine “imperishable spirit” (either Wisdom as in 1:4, 7, or perhaps the breath of life as in Gn 2:7) is in everything (12:1).
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.