Wisdom of solomon 5:14 - Because the hope of the ungodly man is as chaff carried by the wind, And as foam vanishing before a tempest; And is scattered as smoke is scattered by the wind, And passes by as the remembrance of a guest that waits but a day.

Generated Verse: Wisdom of solomon 5:14

What does "Wisdom of solomon 5:14" mean?


This verse from Wisdom of Solomon 5:14 is a powerful and poetic condemnation of the fleeting and ultimately worthless nature of the hopes of the ungodly. It uses a series of vivid images to illustrate this point:

"As chaff carried by the wind": Chaff is the light, worthless husk separated from grain. It is easily blown away by the wind and disappears quickly. This represents how the hopes of the ungodly are insubstantial and easily destroyed by adversity or time. They have no real foundation or depth.

"And as foam vanishing before a tempest": Foam (like sea foam) is fragile and short-lived. A tempest (a violent storm) quickly disperses it. Similarly, the hopes of the ungodly are powerless against the storms of life. They vanish quickly when faced with difficulty or judgment.

"And is scattered as smoke is scattered by the wind": Smoke dissipates quickly in the wind, leaving no trace. This image emphasizes the ephemeral and fleeting quality of the ungodly's hopes. They leave no lasting impact or positive legacy.

"And passes by as the remembrance of a guest that waits but a day": This image highlights how easily and quickly the ungodly and their hopes are forgotten. A guest who stays only for a day is not likely to make a lasting impression. Their memory fades quickly.

Overall, the verse conveys these key ideas:

The futility of ungodly hopes: The hopes of those who reject God are ultimately meaningless and without substance.
Their lack of permanence: These hopes are fragile and quickly destroyed by the challenges of life.
Their insignificance in the grand scheme of things: The ungodly's aspirations are easily forgotten and leave no lasting impact.

The verse serves as a warning against placing one's hopes on fleeting worldly things or rejecting God, as such hopes will ultimately prove to be empty and disappointing. It implicitly contrasts the fleeting hopes of the ungodly with the enduring hope offered by wisdom and righteousness.

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