Sapientiæ Solomonis 15
Clementine Vulgate, 1598Translation
Clementine Vulgate, 1598
King James Version with Apocrypha
1[Tu autem, Deus noster, suavis et verus es, patiens, et in misericordia disponens omnia.
1But thou, O God, art gracious and true, longsuffering, and in mercy ordering all things,
2Etenim si peccaverimus, tui sumus, scientes magnitudinem tuam; et si non peccaverimus, scimus quoniam apud te sumus computati.
2For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power: but we will not sin, knowing that we are counted thine.
3Nosse enim te, consummata justitia est; et scire justitiam et virtutem tuam, radix est immortalitatis.
3For to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy power is the root of immortality.
4Non enim in errorem induxit nos hominum malæ artis excogitatio, nec umbra picturæ labor sine fructu, effigies sculpta per varios colores:
4For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us, nor an image spotted with divers colours, the painter’s fruitless labour;
5cujus aspectus insensato dat concupiscentiam, et diligit mortuæ imaginis effigiem sine anima.
5The sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it, and so they desire the form of a dead image, that hath no breath.
6Malorum amatores digni sunt qui spem habeant in talibus, et qui faciunt illos, et qui diligunt, et qui colunt.]
6Both they that make them, they that desire them, and they that worship them, are lovers of evil things, and are worthy to have such things to trust upon.
7[Sed et figulus mollem terram premens, laboriose fingit ad usus nostros unumquodque vas; et de eodem luto fingit quæ munda sunt in usum vasa, et similiter quæ his sunt contraria: horum autem vasorum quis sit usus, judex est figulus.
7For the potter, tempering soft earth, fashioneth every vessel with much labour for our service: yea, of the same clay he maketh both the vessels that serve for clean uses, and likewise also all such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of either sort, the potter himself is the judge.
8Et cum labore vano deum fingit de eodem luto ille qui paulo ante de terra factus fuerat, et post pusillum reducit se unde acceptus est, repetitus animæ debitum quam habebat.
8And employing his labours lewdly, he maketh a vain god of the same clay, even he which a little before was made of earth himself, and within a little while after returneth to the same, out when his life which was lent him shall be demanded.
9Sed cura est illi non quia laboraturus est, nec quoniam brevis illi vita est: sed concertatur aurificibus et argentariis; sed et ærarios imitatur, et gloriam præfert, quoniam res supervacuas fingit.
9Notwithstanding his care is, not that he shall have much labour, nor that his life is short: but striveth to excel goldsmiths and silversmiths, and endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it his glory to make counterfeit things.
10Cinis est enim cor ejus, et terra supervacua spes illius, et luto vilior vita ejus:
10His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his life of less value than clay:
11quoniam ignoravit qui se finxit, et qui inspiravit illi animam quæ operatur, et qui insufflavit ei spiritum vitalem.
11Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.
12Sed et æstimaverunt ludum esse vitam nostram, et conversationem vitæ compositam ad lucrum, et oportere undecumque etiam ex malo acquirere.
12But they counted our life a pastime, and our time here a market for gain: for, say they, we must be getting every way, though it be by evil means.
13Hic enim scit se super omnes delinquere, qui ex terræ materia fragilia vasa et sculptilia fingit.
13For this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.
14Omnes enim insipientes, et infelices supra modum animæ superbi, sunt inimici populi tui, et imperantes illi:
14And all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subjection, are most foolish, and are more miserable than very babes.
15quoniam omnia idola nationum deos æstimaverunt, 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.
15For they counted all the idols of the heathen to be 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 go.
16Homo enim fecit illos; et qui spiritum mutuatus est, is finxit illos. Nemo enim sibi similem homo poterit deum fingere.
16For man made them, and he that borrowed his own spirit fashioned them: but no man can make a god like unto himself.
17Cum enim sit mortalis, mortuum fingit manibus iniquis. Melior enim est ipse his quos colit, quia ipse quidem vixit, cum esset mortalis, illi autem numquam.]
17For being mortal, he worketh a dead thing with wicked hands: for he himself is better than the things which he worshippeth: whereas he lived once, but they never.
18[Sed et animalia miserrima colunt; insensata enim comparata his, illis sunt deteriora.
18Yea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful: for being compared together, some are worse than others.
19Sed nec aspectu aliquis ex his animalibus bona potest conspicere: effugerunt autem Dei laudem et benedictionem ejus.]
19Neither are they beautiful, so much as to be desired in respect of beasts: but they went without the praise of God and his blessing.
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