1 But all men be vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and of these good things which are seen they could not understand him that is, neither attending to the works have they agnised who was the workman:
1 But ¹all 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:
2 but either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or a circle of stars, or exceeding much water, or the sun and moon, they thought to be gods, rulers of the world.
2 ²But 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.
3 With whose beauty if being delighted they thought them gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they. For the author of beauty made all those things.
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.
4 Or if they marveled at their virtue, & operations, let them understand by them, that he which made these, is stronger than they:
4 Or if they admired their power and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:
5 for by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the Creator of them may be seen, to be known thereby.
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.
6 But notwithstanding there is yet in these less complaint. For they also perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.
6 But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.
7 For whereas they converse in his works, they inquire: & they are persuaded that the things be good which are seen.
7 ³For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen.
8 But again neither ought these to be pardoned.
8 But then again they are not to be pardoned.
9 For if they could know so much, that they were able to estimate the world: how did they not more easily find the Lord thereof?
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?
10 But they are unhappy, & their hope is among the dead, who have called the works of men's hands gods, gold & silver, the invention of art, and the similitudes of beasts, or an unprofitable stone the work of an old hand.
10 But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have called gods the works of the hand of men, gold and silver, the inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable stone the work of an ancient hand.
11 Or if an artificer a carpenter, cut straight timber out of the wood, & pare off all the bark thereof cunningly, and using his art diligently frameth a vessel profitable for the common use of this life,
11 ⁴Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for his use in the wood, and skillfully taken off all the bark thereof, and with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common uses of life,
12 and useth the chips of that work to dress his meat:
12 And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:
13 and maketh that which is left thereof, which is for no uses, but being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knobs, carveth it diligently in the hollowness thereof, and by the skill of his art fashioneth it, and maketh it like to the image of a man,
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:
14 or compareth it to some beast, straking it over with red, and with painting making the colour thereof ruddy, and layeth a colour over every spot that is in it:
14 Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermillion, and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:
15 and maketh a worthy habitation for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron
15 And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron,
16 lest perhaps it fall, providing for it, knowing that it cannot help itself: for it is an image, and it needeth help.
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.
17 And concerning his substance, & his children, & for marriage, making a vow he seeketh to it. He is not ashamed to speak with him, that is without soul:
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:
18 and for health certes he beseecheth the weak, and for life asketh the dead, and for help invocateth him that is unprofitable:
18 And for health he maketh supplication to the weak, and for life prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is unprofitable:
19 and for a journey asketh him, that cannot walk: and for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh him, that in all is unprofitable.
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 anything.