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tu autem Deus noster suavis et verus es patiens et misericordia disponens omnia
But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering all things in mercy.
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| 2 |
etenim si peccaverimus tui sumus scientes magnitudinem tuam et si non peccaverimus scimus quoniam apud te sumus conputati
For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy greatness: and if we sin not, we know that we are counted with thee.
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| 3 |
nosse enim te consummata iustitia est et scire iustitiam et virtutem tuam radix est inmortalitatis
For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and thy power, is the root of immortality.
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| 4 |
non enim in errorem induxit nos hominum malae artis excogitatio nec umbra picturae labor sine fructu effigies sculpta per varios colores
For the invention of mischievous men hath not deceived us, nor the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with divers colours,
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| 5 |
cuius aspectus insensato dat concupiscentiam et diligit mortuae imaginis effigiem sine anima
The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it, and he loveth the lifeless figure of a dead image.
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| 6 |
malorum amatores digni qui spem in talibus habent et qui faciunt illos et qui diligunt et qui colunt
The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they that worship them.
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| 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
The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the judge.
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| 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
And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent him, shall be called for again.
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| 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
But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory to make vain things.
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| 10 |
cinis est cor eius et terra supervacua spes illius et luto vilior vita illius
For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth and his life more base than clay:
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| 11 |
quoniam ignoravit qui se finxit et qui inspiravit illi animam quae operatur et qui insuflavit spiritum vitalem
Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, and him that inspired into him the soul that worketh, and that breathed into him a living spirit.
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| 12 |
sed aestimaverunt ludum esse vitam nostram et conversationem vitae conpositam ad lucrum et oportere undecumque etiam ex malo adquirere
Yea, and they have counted our life a pastime and the business of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of evil.
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| 13 |
hic enim super omnes scit se delinquere qui ex terrae materia fragilia vasa et sculptilia fingit
For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods.
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| 14 |
omnes enim insipientes et infelices supra modum animae superbi sunt inimici populi tui et imperantes illi
But all the enemies of thy people that hold them in subjection, are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure:
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| 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
For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for 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 walk.
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| 16 |
homo enim fecit illos et qui spiritum mutuatus est is finxit illos nemo enim sibi similem homo poterit deum fingere
For man made them: and he that borroweth his own breath, fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself.
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| 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
For being mortal himself, he formeth a dead thing with his wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worshippeth, because he indeed hath lived, though he were mortal, but they never.
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| 18 |
sed et animalia miserrima colunt insensate enim conparata his aliis sunt deteriora
Moreover, they worship also the vilest creatures: but things without sense, compared to these, are worse than they.
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| 19 |
sed nec aspectu aliquis ex his animalibus bona potest conspicere effugit autem Dei laudem et benedictionem eius
Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But they have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing.
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