Men following their fantasies knew not God by his creatures, but honoured the creatures for gods. 10. Most sottishly also worshipped things fashioned by men's hands, as gods.Men folowing their phantasies knew not God by his creatures, but honored the creatures for goddes. 10. Most sottishly also worshipped thinges fashioned by mens handes, as goddes.✦
But all men are vani: empty, without substance, 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 agnoverunt: acknowledged, recognized who was the workman:BVT al men be vaine, in whom there is not the knowlege of God: and of these good thinges, which are sene they could not vnderstand him that is, neither attending to the workes haue they agnised who was the workeman:¶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 :
2but either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or a circle of stars or exceeding much water, or the sun and the moon, they thought to be gods rulers of the world.but either the fyre, or the wind, or the swift ayre, or a circle of starres or exceding much water, or the sunne and the moone, they thought to be goddes rulers of the world.sed aut ignem, aut spiritum, aut citatum aërem, aut gyrum stellarum, aut nimiam aquam, aut solem et lunam, rectores orbis terrarum deos putaverunt.
3With 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.With whose beautie if being delighted, they thought them goddes: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful then they. For the author of beautie made al those thinges.Quorum si specie delectati, deos putaverunt, sciant quanto his dominator eorum speciosior est : speciei enim generator hæc omnia constituit.
4Or if they marvelled at their virtue, and operations, let them understand by them, that he which made these, is stronger than they:Or if they merueled at their vertue, & operations, let them vnderstand by them, that he which made these, is stronger then they:Aut si virtutem et opera eorum mirati sunt, intelligant ab illis quoniam qui hæc fecit fortior est illis :
5for by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creaturæ: the created thing, the whole of creation the creator of them may be seen, to be known thereby.for by the greatnes of the beautie, and of the creature the creator of them may be sene, to be knowen therby.a magnitudine enim speciei et creaturæ cognoscibiliter poterit creator horum videri.
6But notwithstanding there is yet in these less complaint. For they also perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.But notwithstanding there is yet in these lesse complainte. For they also perhaps erre, seeking God, and desirous to finde him.Sed tamen adhuc in his minor est querela ; et hi enim fortasse errant, Deum quærentes, et volentes invenire.
7For whereas they conversentur: talk together; are conversant, are occupied among in his works, they enquire: and they are persuaded that the things be good which are seen.For whereas they conuerse in his workes, they enquire: & they are perswaded that the thinges be good which are seene.Etenim cum in operibus illius conversentur inquirunt, et persuasum habent quoniam bona sunt quæ videntur.
8But again neither ought these to be pardoned.But againe neither ought these to be pardoned.Iterum autem nec his debet ignosci.
9For if they could know so much, that they were able to estimate the world: how did they not more easily find the Lord thereof?For if they could know so much, that they were able to estimate the world: how did they not more easely find the Lord therof?Si enim tantum potuerunt scire ut possent æstimare sæculum, quomodo hujus Dominum non facilius invenerunt ?
10But they are unhappy, and their hope is among the dead, who have called the works of men's hands gods, gold and silver, the invention of art, and the similitudes of beasts, or an inutilem: useless, worth nothing stone the work of an old hand.But they are vnhappie, & their hope is among the dead, who haue called the workes of mens handes godds, gold & siluer, the inuention of art, and the similitudes of beastes, or an vnprofitable stone the worke of an old hand.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.
11Or if an artificer a carpenter, cut straight timber out of the wood, and pare off all the bark thereof cunningly, and using his art, diligently frameth a vessel profitable for the common use of this life,Or if an artificer a carpenter, cut streight timber out of the wood, & pare of al the barke therof cunningly, and vsing his art, diligently frameth a vessel profitable for the common vse of this life,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 ;
12and useth the chips of that work to dress his meat:and vseth the chippes of that worke to dresse his meate:reliquiis autem ejus operis ad præparationem escæ abutatur,
13and maketh that which is left thereof; which is for no uses, but being a crooked piece of wood, and full of vorticibus: knots, gnarls in the wood, 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,and maketh that which is left therof; which is for no vses, but being a crooked peece of wood, and ful of knobes, carueth it diligently in the holownes therof, and by the skil of his art fashioneth it, and maketh it like to the image of a man,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,
14or compareth it to some beast, perliniens: smearing, daubing over it over with red, and with painting making the colour thereof ruddy, and layeth a colour over every spot that is in it:or compareth it to some beast, straking it ouer with redde, and with paynting making the colour therof ruddie, and layeth a colour ouer euerie spot that is in it:aut alicui ex animalibus illud comparet : perliniens rubrica, et rubicundum faciens fuco colorem illius, et omnem maculam quæ in illo est perliniens ;
15and maketh a worthy habitation for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron;and maketh a worthie habitation for it, and setting it in a wal, and fastening it with yron;et faciat ei dignam habitationem, et in pariete ponens illud, et confirmans ferro
16lest perhaps it fall, providing for it. knowing that it can not help itself: for it is an image, and it needeth help.lest perhaps it fal, prouiding for it. knowing that it can not helpe it selfe: for it is an image, and it nedeth helpe.ne forte cadat, prospiciens illi : sciens quoniam non potest adjuvare se : imago enim est, et opus est illi adjutorium.
17And concerning his substance, and his children, and for marriage, making a vow he seeketh to it. He is not ashamed to speak with him, that is without soul;And concerning his substance, & his children, & for mariage, making a vow he seeketh to it. He is not ashamed to speake with him, that is without soule;Et de substantia sua, et de filiis suis, et de nuptiis votum faciens inquirit : non erubescit loqui cum illo qui sine anima est.
18and for health quidem: indeed, assuredly he beseecheth the weak, and for life asketh the dead, and for help invocateth him that is unprofitable:and for health certes he besecheth the weake, and for life asketh the dead, and for helpe inuocateth him that is vnprofitable:Et pro sanitate quidem infirmum deprecatur, et pro vita rogat mortuum, et in adjutorium inutilem invocat.
19and for a journey asketh him, that can not walk: and for getting, and for working, and for the eventu: an occurrence; the outcome, the final issue of all things he asketh him, that in all is unprofitable.and for a iourney asketh him, that can not walke: and for getting, and for working, and for the euent of al thinges he asketh him, that in al is vnprofitable.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.
Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament
1They could not understand him, that is. Philosophers discussing the nature of many creatures, saw that every creature proceeded of some other thing, and so there must needs be one beginning of all, absolute of itself, neither proceeding nor depending of another, nor a limited substance. As the thing that is a man, is not a beast; an ox is not a horse: &c. and telling what any thing is, we exclude thereby that it is not other things, but saying without addition, HE WHICH IS, we show the beginning of all, in no sort limited: and this is God. Whom some Philosophers, by such discourse found, and knew in general, and sometimes confessed, but did not honour him as God, and therefore were inexcusable, as S. Paul concludeth against them. Rom. 1.They could not vnderstand him, that is. Philosophers discussing the nature of manie creatures, saw that euerie creature proceded of some other thing, & so there must nedes be one beginning of al, absolute of itselfe, neither proceding nor depending of an other, nor a limited substance. As the thing that is a man, is not a beast; an oxe is not a horse: &c. and telling what anie thing is, we exclude therby that it is not other thinges, but saying without addition, HE WHICH IS, we shew the beginning of al, in no sorte limited: and this is God. VVhom some Philosophers, by such discourse found, & knew in general, & sometimes confessed, but did not honour him as God, and therefore were inexcusable, as S. Paule concludeth against them. Rom. 1.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.