Wisdom 15

DOUAI-RHEIMS	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering all things in mercy.	1 But thou, our God, art kind and true, patient, and ruling all things in mercy.
2 For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy greatness: and if we sin not, we know that we are counted with thee.	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 For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and thy power, is the root of immortality.	3 For to know thee is complete righteousness, and to know thy power is the root of immortality.
4 For the invention of mischievous men hath not deceived us, nor the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with divers colours,	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 The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it, and he loveth the lifeless figure of a dead image.	5 whose appearance arouses yearning in fools, so that they desire the lifeless form of a dead image.
6 The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them,and they that worship them.	6 Lovers of evil things and fit for such objects of hope are those who either make or desire or worship them.
7 The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the judge.	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 And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth to the same out of which he was taken, when his life which was lent him shall be called for again.	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 But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory to make vain things.	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 For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth, and his life more base than clay:	10 His heart is ashes, his hope is cheaper than dirt, and his life is of less worth than clay,
11 Forasmuch as he knew not his maker and him that inspired into him the soul that worketh, and that breathed into him a living spirit.	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 Yea and they have counted our life a pastime, and the business of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of evil.	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 For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods.	13 For this man, more than all others, knows that he sins when he makes from earthy matter fragile vessels and graven images.
14 But all the enemies of thy people that hold them in subjection, are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure:	14 But most foolish, and more miserable than an infant, are all the enemies who oppressed thy people.
15 For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for 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 walk.	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 For man made them: and he that borroweth his own breath, fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself.	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 For being mortal himself, he formeth a dead thing with his wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worshippeth, because he indeed hath lived, though he were mortal, but they never.	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 Moreover they worship also the vilest creatures: but things without sense compared to these, are worse than they.	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 Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But they have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing.	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.