Liber Sapientiae, 13

1. Vani autem sunt natura omnes homines, in quibus non subest scientia Dei; et de his, quae videntur bonis, non potuerunt intellegere eum, qui est, neque operibus attendentes agnoverunt artificem.

1. For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists, nor did they recognize the craftsman while paying heed to his works;

2. Sed aut ignem aut spiritum aut citatum aerem aut gyrum stellarum aut violentam aquam aut luminaria caeli, rectores orbis terrarum, deos putaverunt.

2. but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world.

3. Quorum si specie delectati, illa deos putaverunt, sciant quanto his dominator eorum melior est: speciei enim principium et auctor constituit ea.

3. If through delight in the beauty of these things men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them.

4. Si autem virtutem et operationem eorum mirati, intellegant ab illis quanto, qui haec fecit, fortior est illis:

4. And if men were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is he who formed them.

5. a magnitudine enim et pulchritudine creaturarum cognoscibiliter potest creator horum videri.

5. For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.

6. Sed tamen in his minor est querela, et hi enim fortasse errant Deum quaerentes et volentes invenire.

6. Yet these men are little to be blamed, for perhaps they go astray while seeking God and desiring to find him.

7. Etenim, cum in operibus illius conversentur, inquirunt et credunt visui, quoniam pulchra sunt, quae videntur.

7. For as they live among his works they keep searching, and they trust in what they see, because the things that are seen are beautiful.

8. Iterum autem nec his potest ignosci:

8. Yet again, not even they are to be excused;

9. si enim tantum valuerunt scire, ut possent aestimare saeculum, quomodo huius Dominum non facilius invenerunt?

9. for if they had the power to know so much that they could investigate the world, how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things?

10. Infelices autem, et in rebus mortuis sunt spes illorum, qui appellaverunt deos opera manuum hominum, aurum et argentum, artis inventionem et similitudines animalium aut lapidem inutilem, opus manus antiquae.

10. But miserable, with their hopes set on dead things, are the men who give the name "gods" to the works of men's hands, gold and silver fashioned with skill, and likenesses of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.

11. Aut si quis artifex faber de silva tractabile lignum secuerit C huius docte erasit omnem corticem et arte sua usus diligenter fabricavit vas utile in conversationem vitae;

11. A skilled woodcutter may saw down a tree easy to handle and skilfully strip off all its bark, and then with pleasing workmanship make a useful vessel that serves life's needs,

12. reliquiis autem eius operis ad praeparationem escae abusus, satiatus est,

12. and burn the castoff pieces of his work to prepare his food, and eat his fill.

13. et reliquum horum, quod ad nullos usus facit, lignum curvum et nodis concretum accipiens, sculpsit diligenter per vacuitatem suam et per scientiam tempore requiei figuravit illud - assimilavit illud imagini hominis

13. But a castoff piece from among them, useful for nothing, a stick crooked and full of knots, he takes and carves with care in his leisure, and shapes it with skill gained in idleness; he forms it like the image of a man,

14. aut alicui ex vilibus animalibus illud comparavit, perliniens rubrica et rubicundum faciens fuco colorem illius et omnem maculam, quae in illo erat, perliniens

14. or makes it like some worthless animal, giving it a coat of red paint and coloring its surface red and covering every blemish in it with paint;

15. et faciens ei dignam habitationem in pariete posuit illud, confirmans ferro.

15. then he makes for it a niche that befits it, and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there with iron.

16. Ne igitur forte caderet providit illi, sciens quoniam non potest se ipsum adiuvare: imago enim est, et opus est illi adiutorium.

16. So he takes thought for it, that it may not fall, because he knows that it cannot help itself, for it is only an image and has need of help.

17. Et de substantiis et de nuptiis et de filiis votum faciens, non erubescit loqui cum illo, quod sine anima est, et pro sanitate quidem infirmum deprecatur

17. When he prays about possessions and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing.

18. et pro vita rogat mortuum et in adiutorium rem omnino inutilem invocat, et pro itinere petit ab eo, quod ambulare non potest,

18. For health he appeals to a thing that is weak; for life he prays to a thing that is dead; for aid he entreats a thing that is utterly inexperienced; for a prosperous journey, a thing that cannot take a step;

19. et de acquirendo et de operando et de bono manuum eventu petit utilitatem ab eo, quod prorsus inutile est manibus.

19. for money-making and work and success with his hands he asks strength of a thing whose hands have no strength.