Liber Sapientiae, 15

1. Tu autem, Deus noster, suavis et verus es, patiens et in misericordia disponens omnia.

1. But thou, our God, art kind and true, patient, and ruling all things in mercy.

2. Etenim, si peccaverimus, tui sumus, scientes potentiam tuam; non peccabimus autem, scientes quoniam apud te sumus computati.

2. For even if we sin we are thine, knowing thy power; but we will not sin, because we know that we are accounted thine.

3. Nosse enim te consummata iustitia est, et scire virtutem tuam radix est immortalitatis.

3. For to know thee is complete righteousness, and to know thy power is the root of immortality.

4. Nec enim in errorem induxit nos hominum malae artis excogitatio, nec adumbrantium labor sine fructu, effigies maculata per varios colores,

4. For neither has the evil intent of human art misled us, nor the fruitless toil of painters, a figure stained with varied colors,

5. cuius aspectus insensatis in concupiscentiam venit, et diligit mortuae imaginis effigiem sine anima.

5. whose appearance arouses yearning in fools, so that they desire the lifeless form of a dead image.

6. Malorum amatores digni sunt, qui spem habeant in talibus et qui faciunt illos et qui diligunt et qui colunt.

6. Lovers of evil things and fit for such objects of hope are those who either make or desire or worship them.

7. Sed et figulus, mollem terram premens laboriose, fingit ad usus nostros unumquodque vas; et de eodem luto fingit, quae mundis operibus in usum sunt, vasa, et quae his sunt contraria, omnia similiter; horum autem singulorum vasorum quis utriusque sit usus, iudex est figulus.

7. For when a potter kneads the soft earth and laboriously molds each vessel for our service, he fashions out of the same clay both the vessels that serve clean uses and those for contrary uses, making all in like manner; but which shall be the use of each of these the worker in clay decides.

8. Et cum malo labore deum vanum fingit de eodem luto ille, qui paulo ante de terra factus fuerat, et post pusillum reducit se, unde acceptus est, repetitus animae debitum.

8. With misspent toil, he forms a futile god from the same clay -- this man who was made of earth a short time before and after a little while goes to the earth from which he was taken, when he is required to return the soul that was lent him.

9. Sed cura est illi, non quia laboraturus est, nec quoniam brevis illi vita est, sed concertatur aurificibus et argentariis et aerarios imitatur et gloriam praefert, quoniam res supervacuas fingit.

9. But he is not concerned that he is destined to die or that his life is brief, but he competes with workers in gold and silver, and imitates workers in copper; and he counts it his glory that he molds counterfeit gods.

10. Cinis est cor eius, et terra despectior spes illius, et luto vilior vita eius,

10. His heart is ashes, his hope is cheaper than dirt, and his life is of less worth than clay,

11. quoniam ignoravit, qui se finxit et qui inspiravit illi animam, quae operatur, et qui insufflavit ei spiritum vitalem.

11. because he failed to know the one who formed him and inspired him with an active soul and breathed into him a living spirit.

12. Sed et aestimavit lusum esse vitam nostram et conversationem vitae compositam ad lucrum; oportere enim dicit undecumque etiam ex malo acquirere.

12. But he considered our existence an idle game, and life a festival held for profit, for he says one must get money however one can, even by base means.

13. Hic enim scit se super omnes delinquere, qui ex terrae materia fragilia vasa et sculptilia fingit.

13. For this man, more than all others, knows that he sins when he makes from earthy matter fragile vessels and graven images.

14. Omnes enim insipientes et infelices supra modum animae infantis sunt inimici populi tui et per potentiam opprimentes illum.

14. But most foolish, and more miserable than an infant, are all the enemies who oppressed thy people.

15. Quoniam omnia idola nationum deos aestimaverunt, quibus neque oculorum usus est ad videndum, neque nares ad percipiendum spiritum, neque aures ad audiendum, neque digiti manuum ad tractandum, sed et pedes eorum pigri ad ambulandum.

15. For they thought that all their heathen idols were gods, though these have neither the use of their eyes to see with, nor nostrils with which to draw breath, nor ears with which to hear, nor fingers to feel with, and their feet are of no use for walking.

16. Homo enim fecit illos, et, qui spiritum mutuatus est, is finxit illos; nemo enim sibi similem homo poterit deum fingere:

16. For a man made them, and one whose spirit is borrowed formed them; for no man can form a god which is like himself.

17. cum autem sit mortalis, mortuum fingit manibus iniquis. Melior enim est ipse his, quos colit, quia ipse quidem vixit, cum esset mortalis, illi autem numquam.

17. He is mortal, and what he makes with lawless hands is dead, for he is better than the objects he worships, since he has life, but they never have.

18. Sed et animalia miserrima colunt; in insipientia enim, aliis comparata, his sunt deteriora.

18. The enemies of thy people worship even the most hateful animals, which are worse than all others, when judged by their lack of intelligence;

19. Nec pulchra in his inveniuntur, quantum desiderari possit, ut fit in animalium conspectu; effugerunt autem et Dei laudem et benedictionem eius.

19. and even as animals they are not so beautiful in appearance that one would desire them, but they have escaped both the praise of God and his blessing.