| 1 |
iterum alius navigare cogitans et per feros fluctus incipiens iter facere ligno portante se fragilius lignum invocat
Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more frail than the wood that carrieth him.
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| 2 |
illud enim cupiditas adquirendi excogitavit et artifex sapientia fabricavit sua
For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by his skill.
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| 3 |
tua autem pater gubernat providentia quoniam dedisti et in mari viam et inter fluctus semitam firmissimam
But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves,
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| 4 |
ostendens quoniam potes ex omnibus sanare etiam si sine rate aliquis adeat
Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea, though a man went to sea without art.
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| 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
But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men also trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea by ship, are saved.
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| 6 |
sed ab initio cum perirent superbi gigantes spes orbis terrarum ad ratem confugiens remisit saeculo semen nativitatis quae manu tua erat gubernata
And from the beginning also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand, left to the world seed of generation.
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| 7 |
benedictum est enim lignum per quod fit iustitia
For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh
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| 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
But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is called a god.
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| 9 |
similiter autem odio sunt Deo impius et impietas eius
But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.
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| 10 |
etenim quod factum est cum illo qui fecit tormenta patietur
For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall suffer torments.
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| 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
Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the Gentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination, and a temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.
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| 12 |
initium enim fornicationis est exquisitio idolorum et adinventio illorum corruptio vitae est
For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and the invention of them is the corruption of life.
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| 13 |
neque erant ab initio neque erunt in perpetuum
For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
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| 14 |
supervacuitas enim hominum venit in orbem terrarum et ideo brevis illorum finis inventus est
For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore they shall be found to come shortly to an end.
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| 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
For a father being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself the image of his son, who was quickly taken away: and him who then had died as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him rites and sacrifices among his servants.
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| 16 |
deinde interveniente tempore convalescente iniqua consuetudine hic error tamquam lex custodita est et tyrannorum imperio colebantur figmenta
Then, in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of tyrants.
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| 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
And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an express image of the king, whom they had a mind to honour: that by this their diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent.
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| 18 |
provexit autem ad horum culturam et hos qui ignorabant artificis eximia diligentia
And to the worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.
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| 19 |
ille enim volens placere illi qui se adsumpsit elaboravit arte sua ut similitudinem in melius figuraret
For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner.
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| 20 |
multitudo autem adducta per speciem operis eum qui ante tempus tamquam homo honoratus fuerat nunc deum existimaverunt
And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the work, took him now for a god, that little before was but honoured as a man.
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| 21 |
et haec fuit vitae humanae deceptio quoniam aut adfectui aut regibus deservientes homines incommunicabile nomen lapidibus et lignis inposuerunt
And this was the occasion of deceiving human life: for men serving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable name to stones and wood.
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| 22 |
et non sufficerat errasse eos circa Dei scientiam sed et in magno viventes inscientiae bello tot et tam magna mala pacem appellant
And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so many and so great evils peace.
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| 23 |
aut enim filios suos sacrificantes aut obscura sacrificia facientes aut insaniae plenas vigilias habentes
For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,
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| 24 |
neque vitam neque nuptias mundas iam custodiunt sed alius alium per invidiam occidit aut adulterans contristat
So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:
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| 25 |
et omnia commixta sunt sanguis homicidium furtum et fictio corruptio infidelitas turbatio et periurium tumultus bonorum
And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, disquieting of the good,
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| 26 |
Domini inmemoratio animarum inquinatio nativitatis inmutatio nuptiarum inconstantia moechiae et inpudicitia
Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness.
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| 27 |
infandorum enim idolorum cultura omnis mali causa est et initium et finis
For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the beginning and end of all evil.
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| 28 |
aut enim dum laetantur insaniunt aut vaticinantur falsa aut vivunt iniuste aut periurant cito
For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.
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| 29 |
dum enim confidunt in idolis quae sunt sine anima male iurantes renoceri se non sperant
For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.
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| 30 |
utraque ergo illis evenient digne quoniam male senserunt de Deo adtendentes idolis et iniuste iuraverunt in dolo contemnentes iustitiam
But for both these things they shall be justly punished, because they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn unjustly, in guile despising justice.
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| 31 |
non enim iurantium est virtus sed peccantium poena perambulat semper in iniustorum praevaricationem
For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the just vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the unjust.
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