Wisdom 13

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	VULGATA
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.	1 Vani autem sunt omnes homines in quibus non subest scientia Dei ; et de his quæ videntur bona, non potuerunt intelligere eum qui est, neque operibus attendentes agnoverunt quis esset artifex :
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.	2 sed aut ignem, aut spiritum, aut citatum aërem, aut gyrum stellarum, aut nimiam aquam, aut solem et lunam, rectores orbis terrarum deos putaverunt.
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.	3 Quorum si specie delectati, deos putaverunt, sciant quanto his dominator eorum speciosior est : speciei enim generator hæc omnia constituit.
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.	4 Aut si virtutem et opera eorum mirati sunt, intelligant ab illis quoniam qui hæc fecit fortior est illis :
5 For, by the greatness of the creation and its beauty, the creator of these will be able to be seen discernibly.	5 a magnitudine enim speciei et creaturæ cognoscibiliter poterit creator horum videri.
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.	6 Sed tamen adhuc in his minor est querela ; et hi enim fortasse errant, Deum quærentes, et volentes invenire.
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.	7 Etenim cum in operibus illius conversentur inquirunt, et persuasum habent quoniam bona sunt quæ videntur.
8 But, then again, neither can their debt be ignored.	8 Iterum autem nec his debet ignosci.
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?	9 Si enim tantum potuerunt scire ut possent æstimare sæculum, quomodo hujus Dominum non facilius invenerunt ?
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.	10 Infelices autem sunt, et inter mortuos spes illorum est, qui appellaverunt deos opera manuum hominum : aurum et argentum, artis inventionem, et similitudines animalium, aut lapidem inutilem, opus manus antiquæ.
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,	11 Aut si quis artifex faber de silva lignum rectum secuerit, et hujus docte eradat omnem corticem, et arte sua usus diligenter fabricet vas utile in conversationem vitæ ;
12 and even the remains of his work were exhausted in the preparation of food;	12 reliquiis autem ejus operis ad præparationem escæ abutatur,
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,	13 et reliquum horum quod ad nullos usus facit, lignum curvum et vorticibus plenum sculpat diligenter per vacuitatem suam, et per scientiam suæ artis figuret illud, et assimilet illud imagini hominis,
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;	14 aut alicui ex animalibus illud comparet : perliniens rubrica, et rubicundum faciens fuco colorem illius, et omnem maculam quæ in illo est perliniens ;
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,	15 et faciat ei dignam habitationem, et in pariete ponens illud, et confirmans ferro
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.	16 ne forte cadat, prospiciens illi : sciens quoniam non potest adjuvare se : imago enim est, et opus est illi adjutorium.
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.	17 Et de substantia sua, et de filiis suis, et de nuptiis votum faciens inquirit : non erubescit loqui cum illo qui sine anima est.
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,	18 Et pro sanitate quidem infirmum deprecatur, et pro vita rogat mortuum, et in adjutorium inutilem invocat.
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.	19 Et pro itinere petit ab eo qui ambulare non potest ; et de acquirendo, et de operando, et de omnium rerum eventu, petit ab eo qui in omnibus est inutilis.