1 iterum alius navigare cogitans
et per feros fluctus incipiens
iter facere
ligno portante se fragilius lignum invocat
2 illud enim cupiditas adquirendi excogitavit
et artifex sapientia fabricavit sua
3 tua autem pater gubernat providentia
quoniam dedisti et in mari viam
et inter fluctus semitam firmissimam
4 ostendens quoniam potes ex omnibus sanare
etiam si sine rate aliquis adeat
5 sed ut non esset vacua sapientiae
tuae opera
propter hoc etiam exiguo ligno credunt homines animas suas
et transeuntes mare per ratem liberati sunt
6 sed ab initio cum perirent superbi
gigantes
spes orbis terrarum ad ratem confugiens
remisit saeculo semen nativitatis
quae manu tua erat gubernata
7 benedictum est enim lignum per quod fit iustitia
8 per manus autem quod fit
maledictum et ipsum et qui fecit
illud
quia ille quidem operatus est
illud autem cum esset fragile Deus cognominatus est
9 similiter autem odio sunt Deo impius et impietas eius
10 etenim quod factum est cum illo qui fecit tormenta patietur
11 propter hoc et idolis nationum non erit respectus
quoniam creaturae Dei in odium factae sunt
et in temptationem animis hominum
et in muscipulum pedibus insipientium
12 initium enim fornicationis est exquisitio idolorum
et adinventio illorum corruptio vitae est
13 neque erant ab initio neque erunt in perpetuum
14 supervacuitas enim hominum venit in orbem terrarum
et ideo brevis illorum finis inventus est
15 acerbo enim luctu dolens pater
cito sibi filii rapti faciens imaginem
illum qui tunc homo mortuus fuerat
nunc tamquam deum colere coepit
et constituit inter servos suos sacra et sacrificia
16 deinde interveniente tempore
convalescente iniqua consuetudine
hic error tamquam lex custodita est
et tyrannorum imperio colebantur figmenta
17 hos quos in palam honorare non
poterant homines
propter quod longe essent
e longinquo figura illorum adlata
evidentem imaginem regis quem honorare
volebant fecerunt
ut illum qui aberat tamquam praesentem colerent sua sollicitudine
18 provexit autem ad horum culturam
et hos qui ignorabant artificis eximia diligentia
19 ille enim volens placere illi qui se adsumpsit
elaboravit arte sua ut similitudinem in
melius figuraret
20 multitudo autem adducta per speciem
operis
eum qui ante tempus tamquam homo honoratus fuerat
nunc deum existimaverunt
21 et haec fuit vitae humanae deceptio
quoniam aut adfectui aut regibus
deservientes homines
incommunicabile nomen lapidibus et lignis inposuerunt
22 et non sufficerat errasse eos circa Dei scientiam
sed et in magno viventes inscientiae bello
tot et tam magna mala pacem appellant
23 aut enim filios suos sacrificantes aut obscura sacrificia facientes
aut insaniae plenas vigilias habentes
24 neque vitam neque nuptias mundas iam custodiunt
sed alius alium per invidiam occidit aut adulterans contristat
25 et omnia commixta sunt
sanguis homicidium furtum et fictio
corruptio infidelitas turbatio et periurium
tumultus bonorum
26 Domini inmemoratio
animarum inquinatio nativitatis inmutatio
nuptiarum inconstantia
moechiae et inpudicitia
27 infandorum enim idolorum cultura
omnis mali causa est et initium et finis
28 aut enim dum laetantur insaniunt
aut vaticinantur falsa
aut vivunt iniuste aut periurant cito
29 dum enim confidunt in idolis quae sunt sine anima
male iurantes renoceri se non
sperant
30 utraque ergo illis evenient digne
quoniam male senserunt de Deo adtendentes idolis
et iniuste iuraverunt in dolo
contemnentes iustitiam
31 non enim iurantium est virtus
sed peccantium poena perambulat semper in iniustorum
praevaricationem
1 Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel that carrieth him.
2 For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill.
3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves;
4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man went to sea without art.
5 Nevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom should be idle, and therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved.
6 For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world governed by thy hand escaped in a weak vessel, and left to all ages a seed of generation.
7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.
8 But that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it; and it, because, being corruptible, it was called god.
9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.
10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.
11 Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: because in the creature of God they are become an abomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.
12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.
13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices.
16 Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings.
17 Whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.
18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
20 And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honoured.
21 And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and stocks the incommunicable name.
22 Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.
23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;
24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.
25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.
29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.
30 Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.
31 For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.