Sapienza 13

NOVA VULGATA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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.	1 But all men are vain, who are not under the knowledge of God, and who, from these good things that are seen, were not able to understand he who is, nor, by paying attention to the works, did they acknowledge he who was the artisan.
2 Sed aut ignem aut spiritum aut citatum aerem aut gyrum stellarum aut violentam aquam aut luminaria caeli, rectores orbis terrarum, deos putaverunt.	2 Instead, they had considered either the fire, or the air, or the atmosphere, or the circle of stars, or the great sea, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world.
3 Quorum si specie delectati, illa deos putaverunt, sciant quanto his dominator eorum melior est: speciei enim principium et auctor constituit ea.	3 If they, being delighted by such sights, supposed them to be gods, let them know how great the Lord of them is in splendor. For he who created all things is the author of beauty.
4 Si autem virtutem et operationem eorum mirati, intellegant ab illis quanto, qui haec fecit, fortior est illis:	4 Or, if they wondered at their power and their effects, let them understand by these things, that he who created them is mightier than they are.
5 a magnitudine enim et pulchritudine creaturarum cognoscibiliter potest creator horum videri.	5 For, by the greatness of the creation and its beauty, the creator of these will be able to be seen discernibly.
6 Sed tamen in his minor est querela, et hi enim fortasse errant Deum quaerentes et volentes invenire.	6 Yet, up to this point, the complaint about this is lesser. For perhaps they made a mistake in this, while desiring and seeking to find God.
7 Etenim, cum in operibus illius conversentur, inquirunt et credunt visui, quoniam pulchra sunt, quae videntur.	7 And, indeed, having some familiarity with him through his works, they search, and they are persuaded, because the things that they are seeing are good.
8 Iterum autem nec his potest ignosci:	8 But, then again, neither can their debt be ignored.
9 si enim tantum valuerunt scire, ut possent aestimare saeculum, quomodo huius Dominum non facilius invenerunt?	9 For, if they were able to know enough so that they could value the universe, how is it they did not easily discover the Lord of it?
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.	10 Yet they are unhappy, and their hope is among the dead, for they have called ‘gods’ the works of the hands of men, gold and silver, the inventions of skill, and the likeness of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.
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;	11 Or, it is as if a craftsman, a workman of the forest, had cut straight wood, and, with his expertise, shaved off all of its bark, and, with his skill, diligently fashioned a vessel, practical for use in life,
12 reliquiis autem eius operis ad praeparationem escae abusus, satiatus est,	12 and even the remains of his work were exhausted in the preparation of food;
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	13 and, from the remainder of this, which has become useful for nothing, a curved piece of wood and full of knots, he diligently carves it in his spare time, and, through the knowledge of his art, forms it and makes it in the image of a man,
14 aut alicui ex vilibus animalibus illud comparavit, perliniens rubrica et rubicundum faciens fuco colorem illius et omnem maculam, quae in illo erat, perliniens	14 or something comparable to an animal, thoroughly rubbing it with red ochre, to make it red with the color of the pigment, and to cover every imperfection which is in it;
15 et faciens ei dignam habitationem in pariete posuit illud, confirmans ferro.	15 and it is as if he made a fitting resting place for it, even setting it in a wall and fastening it with iron,
16 Ne igitur forte caderet providit illi, sciens quoniam non potest se ipsum adiuvare: imago enim est, et opus est illi adiutorium.	16 providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself, for it is an image and it is in need of help.
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	17 And then, making an offering, he inquires about his wealth, and about his sons, and about marriage. And he is not ashamed to talk to that which has no soul.
18 et pro vita rogat mortuum et in adiutorium rem omnino inutilem invocat, et pro itinere petit ab eo, quod ambulare non potest,	18 And for health, indeed, something unhealthy is being prayed to, and for life, he petitions what is dead, and for help, he calls upon something helpless,
19 et de acquirendo et de operando et de bono manuum eventu petit utilitatem ab eo, quod prorsus inutile est manibus.	19 and for a good journey, he entreats that which is unable to walk, and for acquiring, and for working, and for success in all things, he entreats that which is useless in all things.