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The Confessions of St. Augustin In Thirteen Books

Chapter XII.--What God Did Before the Creation of the World.

14. Behold, I answer to him who asks, "What was God doing before He made heaven and earth?" I answer not, as a certain person is reported to have done facetiously (avoiding the pressure of the question), "He was preparing hell," saith he, "for those who pry into mysteries." It is one thing to perceive, another to laugh,--these things I answer not. For more willingly would I have answered, "I know not what I know not," than that I should make him a laughing-stock who asketh deep things, and gain praise as one who answereth false things. But I say that Thou, our God, art the Creator of every creature; and if by the term "heaven and earth" every creature is understood, I boldly say, "That before God made heaven and earth, He made not anything. For if He did, what did He make unless the creature?" And would that I knew whatever I desire to know to my advantage, as I know that no creature was made before any creature was made.

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Confessiones (PL)

CAPUT XII. Quid Deus fecerit ante mundi creationem.

[Col. 0815]

14. Ecce respondeo dicenti, Quid faciebat Deus antequam faceret coelum et terram; respondeo non illud quod quidam respondisse perhibetur joculariter, eludens quaestionis violentiam: Alta, inquit, scrutantibus gehennas parabat. Aliud est videre, aliud ridere; haec non respondeo. Libentius enim responderim, Nescio, quod nescio; quam illud unde irridetur qui alta interrogavit, et laudatur qui falsa respondit. Sed dico te, Deus noster, omnis creaturae creatorem. Et si coeli et terrae nomine omnis creatura intelligitur; audenter dico, Antequam faceret Deus coelum et terram, non faciebat aliquid: si enim faciebat, quid nisi creaturam faciebat? Et utinam sic sciam, quidquid utiliter scire cupio, quemadmodum scio quod nulla fiebat creatura, antequam fieret ulla creatura.