1 tu autem Deus noster suavis et verus es
patiens et misericordia disponens omnia
2 etenim si peccaverimus tui sumus scientes magnitudinem tuam
et si non peccaverimus scimus quoniam apud te sumus conputati
3 nosse enim te consummata iustitia est
et scire iustitiam et virtutem tuam radix est inmortalitatis
4 non enim in errorem induxit nos hominum malae artis excogitatio
nec umbra picturae labor sine fructu
effigies sculpta per varios colores
5 cuius aspectus insensato dat concupiscentiam
et diligit mortuae imaginis effigiem sine anima
6 malorum amatores digni qui spem in talibus habent
et qui faciunt illos et qui diligunt et qui colunt
7 sed et figulus mollem terram premens laboriose
fingit ad usus nostros unumquodque vas
et de eodem luto fingit quae munda sunt in usum vasa
similiter et quae his sunt contraria
horum autem vasorum qui sit usus iudex est figulus
8 et cum labore vanum deum de eodem fingit luto
ille qui paulo ante de terra factus fuerat
et post pusillum se ducit unde
acceptus est
repetitus debitum animae quem habebat
9 sed est illi cura non quia laboraturus
est
nec quoniam brevis illi vita est
sed concertatur aurificibus et argentariis
sed et aerarios imitatur et gloriam praefert
quoniam res supervacuas fingit
10 cinis est cor eius
et terra supervacua spes illius et luto vilior vita illius
11 quoniam ignoravit qui se finxit
et qui inspiravit illi animam quae operatur
et qui insuflavit
spiritum vitalem
12 sed aestimaverunt ludum
esse vitam nostram
et conversationem vitae conpositam ad lucrum
et oportere undecumque etiam ex malo adquirere
13 hic enim super omnes scit se delinquere
qui ex terrae materia fragilia vasa et sculptilia fingit
14 omnes enim insipientes et infelices supra modum animae superbi sunt
inimici populi tui et imperantes illi
15 quoniam omnia idola nationum aestimaverunt deos
quibus neque oculorum visus est ad videndum
neque nares ad percipiendum spiritum
neque aures ad audiendum
nec digiti manuum ad tractandum
sed et pedes eorum pigri ad ambulandum
16 homo enim fecit illos
et qui spiritum mutuatus est is finxit illos
nemo enim sibi similem homo poterit deum fingere
17 cum sit enim mortalis mortuum fingit manibus iniquis
melior est enim ipse his quos colit
quia ipse quidem vixit cum esset mortalis illi autem numquam
18 sed et animalia miserrima colunt
insensate enim conparata his aliis sunt
deteriora
19 sed nec aspectu aliquis ex his animalibus bona potest conspicere
effugit autem Dei laudem et benedictionem eius
1 But thou, O God, art gracious and true, longsuffering, and in mercy ordering all things,
2 For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power: but we will not sin, knowing that we are counted thine.
3 For to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy power is the root of immortality.
4 For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us, nor an image spotted with divers colours, the painter’s fruitless labour;
5 The sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it, and so they desire the form of a dead image, that hath no breath.
6 Both they that make them, they that desire them, and they that worship them, are lovers of evil things, and are worthy to have such things to trust upon.
7 For the potter, tempering soft earth, fashioneth every vessel with much labour for our service: yea, of the same clay he maketh both the vessels that serve for clean uses, and likewise also all such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of either sort, the potter himself is the judge.
8 And employing his labours lewdly, he maketh a vain god of the same clay, even he which a little before was made of earth himself, and within a little while after returneth to the same, out when his life which was lent him shall be demanded.
9 Notwithstanding his care is, not that he shall have much labour, nor that his life is short: but striveth to excel goldsmiths and silversmiths, and endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it his glory to make counterfeit things.
10 His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his life of less value than clay:
11 Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.
12 But they counted our life a pastime, and our time here a market for gain: for, say they, we must be getting every way, though it be by evil means.
13 For this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.
14 And all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subjection, are most foolish, and are more miserable than very babes.
15 For they counted all the idols of the heathen to be gods: which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle; and as for their feet, they are slow to go.
16 For man made them, and he that borrowed his own spirit fashioned them: but no man can make a god like unto himself.
17 For being mortal, he worketh a dead thing with wicked hands: for he himself is better than the things which he worshippeth: whereas he lived once, but they never.
18 Yea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful: for being compared together, some are worse than others.
19 Neither are they beautiful, so much as to be desired in respect of beasts: but they went without the praise of God and his blessing.