Liber Sapientiae, 13

1. vani sunt autem omnes homines quibus non subest scientia Dei et de his quæ videntur bona non potuerunt intellegere eum qui est neque operibus adtendentes agnoverunt quis esset artifex

1. But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the workman:

2. sed aut ignem aut spiritum aut citatum ærem aut gyrum stellarum aut nimiam aquam aut solem et lunam rectores orbis terrarum deos putaverunt

2. But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world.

3. quorum si specie delectati deos putaverunt sciant quanto dominator eorum speciosior est speciei enim generator hæc omnia constituit

3. With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they: for the first author of beauty made all those things.

4. aut si virtutem et opera eorum mirati sunt intellegant ab ipsis quoniam qui hæc constituit fortior est illis

4. Or if they admired their power and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:

5. a magnitudine enim speciei et creaturæ cognoscibiliter poterit horum creator videri

5. For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.

6. sed tamen adhuc in his minor est querella et hii enim fortassis errant Deum quærentes et volentes invenire

6. But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.

7. etenim cum in operibus illius conversentur inquirunt et persuasum habent quoniam bona sunt quæ videntur

7. For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen.

8. iterum autem nec his debet ignosci

8. But then again they are not to be pardoned.

9. si enim tantum potuerunt scire ut possent æstimare sæculum quomodo hujus Dominum non facilius invenerunt

9. For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?

10. infelices autem sunt et inter mortuos spes illorum est qui appellaverunt deos opera manuum hominum aurum et argentum artis inventionem similitudines animalium aut lapidem inutilem opus manus antiquæ

10. But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have called gods the works of the hands of men, gold and silver, the inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable stone the work of an ancient hand.

11. aut si quis artifex faber de silva lignum rectum secaverit et hujus docte eradat omnem corticem et arte sua usus diligenter fabricet vas utile in conversatione vitæ

11. Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common uses of life,

12. reliquias autem ejus operis ad præparationem escæ abutatur

12. And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:

13. et reliquum horum quod ad nullos usus facit lignum curvum et verticibus plenum sculpat diligenter per vacuitatem suam et per scientiam artis suæ figuret illud et adsimilet illud imagini hominis

13. And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth it and maketh it like the image of a man:

14. aut alicui ex animalibus illud conparet perliniens lubrica et rubicundum faciens fuco colorem illius et omnem maculam quæ in illo est perliniens

14. Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermillion, and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:

15. et faciat ei dignam habitationem in pariete ponens illud confirmans ferro

15. And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron,

16. ne forte cadat prospiciens illi sciens quoniam non potest se adiuvare imago enim est et opus est illi adiutorio

16. Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help.

17. et de substantia sua et filiis suis et nuptiis votum faciens inquirit non erubescit loqui cum illo qui sine anima est

17. And then maketh prayer to it, inquiring concerning his substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life:

18. et pro sanitate quidem infirmum deprecatur et pro vita mortuum rogat et in adiutorium inutilem invocat

18. And for health he maketh suspplication to the weak, and for life prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is unprofitable:

19. et pro itinere petit ab hoc qui ambulare non potest et de adquirendo et de operando et de omnium rerum eventu petit ab eo qui in omnibus est inutilis

19. And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh him that is unable to do any thing.