Wisdom 13

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NOVA VULGATA
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:	1 Vani autem sunt natura omnes homines, in quibus non subest scientia Dei; et de his, quae videntur bonis, non potuerunt intellegere eum, qui est, neque operibus attendentes agnoverunt artificem.
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.	2 Sed aut ignem aut spiritum aut citatum aerem aut gyrum stellarum aut violentam aquam aut luminaria caeli, rectores orbis terrarum, deos putaverunt.
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.	3 Quorum si specie delectati, illa deos putaverunt, sciant quanto his dominator eorum melior est: speciei enim principium et auctor constituit ea.
4 Or if they admired their power and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:	4 Si autem virtutem et operationem eorum mirati, intellegant ab illis quanto, qui haec fecit, fortior est illis:
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.	5 a magnitudine enim et pulchritudine creaturarum cognoscibiliter potest creator horum videri.
6 But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.	6 Sed tamen in his minor est querela, et hi enim fortasse errant Deum quaerentes et volentes invenire.
7 For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen.	7 Etenim, cum in operibus illius conversentur, inquirunt et credunt visui, quoniam pulchra sunt, quae videntur.
8 But then again they are not to be pardoned.	8 Iterum autem nec his potest ignosci:
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?	9 si enim tantum valuerunt scire, ut possent aestimare saeculum, quomodo huius Dominum non facilius invenerunt?
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.	10 Infelices autem, et in rebus mortuis sunt spes illorum, qui appellaverunt deos opera manuum hominum, aurum et argentum, artis inventionem et similitudines animalium aut lapidem inutilem, opus manus antiquae.
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,	11 Aut si quis artifex faber de silva tractabile lignum secuerit C huius docte erasit omnem corticem et arte sua usus diligenter fabricavit vas utile in conversationem vitae;
12 And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:	12 reliquiis autem eius operis ad praeparationem escae abusus, satiatus est,
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:	13 et reliquum horum, quod ad nullos usus facit, lignum curvum et nodis concretum accipiens, sculpsit diligenter per vacuitatem suam et per scientiam tempore requiei figuravit illud - assimilavit illud imagini hominis
14 Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermillion, and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:	14 aut alicui ex vilibus animalibus illud comparavit, perliniens rubrica et rubicundum faciens fuco colorem illius et omnem maculam, quae in illo erat, perliniens
15 And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron,	15 et faciens ei dignam habitationem in pariete posuit illud, confirmans ferro.
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.	16 Ne igitur forte caderet providit illi, sciens quoniam non potest se ipsum adiuvare: imago enim est, et opus est illi adiutorium.
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:	17 Et de substantiis et de nuptiis et de filiis votum faciens, non erubescit loqui cum illo, quod sine anima est, et pro sanitate quidem infirmum deprecatur
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:	18 et pro vita rogat mortuum et in adiutorium rem omnino inutilem invocat, et pro itinere petit ab eo, quod ambulare non potest,
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.	19 et de acquirendo et de operando et de bono manuum eventu petit utilitatem ab eo, quod prorsus inutile est manibus.