1 But thou, O God, art gracious and true, longsuffering, and in mercy ordering all things.

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

2 For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power: but we will not sin, knowing that we are counted thine.

2 Etenim si peccaverimus, tui sumus,
scientes magnitudinem tuam;
et si non peccaverimus,
scimus quoniam apud te sumus computati.

3 For to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy power is the root of immortality.

3 Nosse enim te, consummata justitia est;
et scire justitiam et virtutem tuam, radix est immortalitatis.

4 For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us, nor an image spotted with divers colours, the painter's fruitless labour;

4 Non enim in errorem induxit nos
hominum malæ artis excogitatio,
nec umbra picturæ labor sine fructu,
effigies sculpta per varios colores:

5 The sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it, and so they desire the form of a dead image, that hath no breath.

5 cujus aspectus insensato dat concupiscentiam,
et diligit mortuæ imaginis effigiem sine anima.

6 Both 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.

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

7 For 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.

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.

8 And 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 of the which he was taken, when his life which was lent him shall be demanded.

8 Et 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.

9 Notwithstanding 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.

9 Sed 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.

10 His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his life of less value than clay:

10 Cinis est enim cor ejus,
et terra supervacua spes illius,
et luto vilior vita ejus:

11 Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.

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

12 But 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.

12 Sed et æstimaverunt ludum esse vitam nostram,
et conversationem vitæ compositam ad lucrum,
et oportere undecumque etiam ex malo acquirere.

13 For this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.

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

14 And all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subjection, are most foolish, and are more miserable than very babes.

14 Omnes enim insipientes,
et infelices supra modum animæ superbi,
sunt inimici populi tui, et imperantes illi:

15 For 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.

15 quoniam 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.

16 For man made them, and he that borrowed his own spirit fashioned them: but no man can make a god like unto himself.

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

17 For 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.

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

18 Yea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful: for being compared together, some are worse than others.

18 ¶ Sed et animalia miserrima colunt;
insensata enim comparata his, illis sunt deteriora.

19 Neither are they beautiful, so much as to be desired in respect of beasts: but they went without the praise of God and his blessing.

19 Sed nec aspectu aliquis ex his animalibus bona potest conspicere:
effugerunt autem Dei laudem et benedictionem ejus.