Wisdom 15 #catechesis/bible/wisdom
[!abstract] The servants of God praise him who has delivered them from idolatry; condemning both the makers and the worshippers of idols.
Book: Wisdom · ← Wisdom 14 · Wisdom 16 →
1
GR σὺ δέ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν χρηστὸς καὶ ἀληθής μακρόθυμος καὶ ἐλέει διοικῶν τὰ πάντα
LA Tu autem, Deus noster, suavis et verus es, patiens, et in misericordia disponens omnia.
EN But you, our God, are gracious and true, patient, and ordering all things in mercy.
^1
2
GR καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν ἁμάρτωμεν σοί ἐσμεν εἰδότες σου τὸ κράτος οὐχ ἁμαρτησόμεθα δέ εἰδότες ὅτι σοὶ λελογίσμεθα
LA Etenim si peccaverimus, tui sumus, scientes magnitudinem tuam; et si non peccaverimus, scimus quoniam apud te sumus computati.
EN For if we sin, we are yours, knowing your greatness: and if we sin not, we know that we are counted with you.
^2
3
GR τὸ γὰρ ἐπίστασθαί σε ὁλόκληρος δικαιοσύνη καὶ εἰδέναι σου τὸ κράτος ῥίζα ἀθανασίας
LA Nosse enim te, consummata justitia est; et scire justitiam et virtutem tuam, radix est immortalitatis.
EN For to know you is perfect justice: and to know your justice, and your power, is the root of immortality.
^3
4
GR οὔτε γὰρ ἐπλάνησεν ἡμᾶς ἀνθρώπων κακότεχνος ἐπίνοια οὐδὲ σκιαγράφων πόνος ἄκαρπος εἶδος σπιλωθὲν χρώμασιν διηλλαγμένοις
LA Non enim in errorem induxit nos hominum malæ artis excogitatio, nec umbra picturæ labor sine fructu, effigies sculpta per varios colores:
EN For the invention of mischievous men has not deceived us, nor the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with divers colours,
^4
5
GR ὧν ὄψις ἄφροσιν εἰς ὄρεξιν ἔρχεται ποθεῖ τε νεκρᾶς εἰκόνος εἶδος ἄπνουν
LA cujus aspectus insensato dat concupiscentiam, et diligit mortuæ imaginis effigiem sine anima.
EN the sight whereof entices the fool to lust after it, and he loves the lifeless figure of a dead image.
^5
6
GR κακῶν ἐρασταὶ ἄξιοί τε τοιούτων ἐλπίδων καὶ οἱ δρῶντες καὶ οἱ ποθοῦντες καὶ οἱ σεβόμενοι
LA Malorum amatores digni sunt qui spem habeant in talibus, et qui faciunt illos, et qui diligunt, et qui colunt.
EN The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they that worship them.
^6
7
GR καὶ γὰρ κεραμεὺς ἁπαλὴν γῆν θλίβων ἐπίμοχθον πλάσσει πρὸς ὑπηρεσίαν ἡμῶν ἓν ἕκαστον ἀλλ’ ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ πηλοῦ ἀνεπλάσατο τά τε τῶν καθαρῶν ἔργων δοῦλα σκεύη τά τε ἐναντία πάντα ὁμοίως τούτων δὲ ἑτέρου τίς ἑκάστου ἐστὶν ἡ χρῆσις κριτὴς ὁ πηλουργός
LA Sed et figulus mollem terram premens, laboriose fingit ad usus nostros unumquodque vas; et de eodem luto fingit quæ munda sunt in usum vasa, et similiter quæ his sunt contraria: horum autem vasorum quis sit usus, judex est figulus.
EN The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashions every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he makes both vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the judge.
^7
8
GR καὶ κακόμοχθος θεὸν μάταιον ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ πλάσσει πηλοῦ ὃς πρὸ μικροῦ ἐκ γῆς γενηθεὶς μετ’ ὀλίγον πορεύεται ἐξ ἧς ἐλήμφθη τὸ τῆς ψυχῆς ἀπαιτηθεὶς χρέος
LA Et cum labore vano deum fingit de eodem luto ille qui paulo ante de terra factus fuerat, et post pusillum reducit se unde acceptus est, repetitus animæ debitum quam habebat.
EN And of the same clay by a vain labour he makes a god: he who a little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returns to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent him, shall be called for again.
^8
9
GR ἀλλ’ ἔστιν αὐτῷ φροντὶς οὐχ ὅτι μέλλει κάμνειν οὐδ’ ὅτι βραχυτελῆ βίον ἔχει ἀλλ’ ἀντερείδεται μὲν χρυσουργοῖς καὶ ἀργυροχόοις χαλκοπλάστας τε μιμεῖται καὶ δόξαν ἡγεῖται ὅτι κίβδηλα πλάσσει
LA Sed cura est illi non quia laboraturus est, nec quoniam brevis illi vita est: sed concertatur aurificibus et argentariis; sed et ærarios imitatur, et gloriam præfert, quoniam res supervacuas fingit.
EN But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is short, but he strives with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he endeavours to do like the workers in brass, and counts it a glory to make vain things.
^9
10
GR σποδὸς ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ καὶ γῆς εὐτελεστέρα ἡ ἐλπὶς αὐτοῦ πηλοῦ τε ἀτιμότερος ὁ βίος αὐτοῦ
LA Cinis est enim cor ejus, et terra supervacua spes illius, et luto vilior vita ejus:
EN For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth and his life more base than clay:
^10
11
GR ὅτι ἠγνόησεν τὸν πλάσαντα αὐτὸν καὶ τὸν ἐμπνεύσαντα αὐτῷ ψυχὴν ἐνεργοῦσαν καὶ ἐμφυσήσαντα πνεῦμα ζωτικόν
LA quoniam ignoravit qui se finxit, et qui inspiravit illi animam quæ operatur, et qui insufflavit ei spiritum vitalem.
EN Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, and him that inspired into him the soul that works, and that breathed into him a living spirit.
^11
12
GR ἀλλ’ ἐλογίσαντο παίγνιον εἶναι τὴν ζωὴν ἡμῶν καὶ τὸν βίον πανηγυρισμὸν ἐπικερδῆ δεῖν γάρ φησιν ὅθεν δή κἂν ἐκ κακοῦ πορίζειν
LA Sed et æstimaverunt ludum esse vitam nostram, et conversationem vitæ compositam ad lucrum, et oportere undecumque etiam ex malo acquirere.
EN Yea, and they have counted our life a pastime and the business of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of evil.
^12
13
GR οὗτος γὰρ παρὰ πάντας οἶδεν ὅτι ἁμαρτάνει ὕλης γεώδους εὔθραυστα σκεύη καὶ γλυπτὰ δημιουργῶν
LA Hic enim scit se super omnes delinquere, qui ex terræ materia fragilia vasa et sculptilia fingit.
EN For that man knows that he offends above all others, who of earthly matter makes brittle vessels, and graven gods.
^13
14
GR πάντες δὲ ἀφρονέστατοι καὶ τάλανες ὑπὲρ ψυχὴν νηπίου οἱ ἐχθροὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου καταδυναστεύσαντες αὐτόν
LA Omnes enim insipientes, et infelices supra modum animæ superbi, sunt inimici populi tui, et imperantes illi:
EN But all the enemies of your people that hold them in subjection, are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure:
^14
15
GR ὅτι καὶ πάντα τὰ εἴδωλα τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐλογίσαντο θεούς οἷς οὔτε ὀμμάτων χρῆσις εἰς ὅρασιν οὔτε ῥῖνες εἰς συνολκὴν ἀέρος οὔτε ὦτα ἀκούειν οὔτε δάκτυλοι χειρῶν εἰς ψηλάφησιν καὶ οἱ πόδες αὐτῶν ἀργοὶ πρὸς ἐπίβασιν
LA quoniam omnia idola nationum deos æstimaverunt, quibus neque oculorum usus est ad videndum, neque nares ad percipiendum spiritum, neque aures ad audiendum, neque digiti manuum ad tractandum, sed et pedes eorum pigri ad ambulandum.
EN For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for gods, which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle, and as for their feet, they are slow to walk.
^15
16
GR ἄνθρωπος γὰρ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα δεδανεισμένος ἔπλασεν αὐτούς οὐδεὶς γὰρ αὐτῷ ὅμοιον ἄνθρωπος ἰσχύει πλάσαι θεόν
LA Homo enim fecit illos; et qui spiritum mutuatus est, is finxit illos. Nemo enim sibi similem homo poterit deum fingere.
EN For man made them: and he that borrows his own breath, fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself.
^16
17
GR θνητὸς δὲ ὢν νεκρὸν ἐργάζεται χερσὶν ἀνόμοις κρείττων γάρ ἐστιν τῶν σεβασμάτων αὐτοῦ ὧν αὐτὸς μὲν ἔζησεν ἐκεῖνα δὲ οὐδέποτε
LA Cum enim sit mortalis, mortuum fingit manibus iniquis. Melior enim est ipse his quos colit, quia ipse quidem vixit, cum esset mortalis, illi autem numquam.
EN For being mortal himself, he forms a dead thing with his wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worships, because he indeed has lived, though he were mortal, but they never.
^17
18
GR καὶ τὰ ζῷα δὲ τὰ ἔχθιστα σέβονται ἀνοίᾳ γὰρ συγκρινόμενα τῶν ἄλλων ἐστὶ χείρονα
LA Sed et animalia miserrima colunt; insensata enim comparata his, illis sunt deteriora.
EN Moreover, they worship also the vilest creatures: but things without sense, compared to these, are worse than they.
^18
19
GR οὐδ’ ὅσον ἐπιποθῆσαι ὡς ἐν ζῴων ὄψει καλὰ τυγχάνει ἐκπέφευγεν δὲ καὶ τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἔπαινον καὶ τὴν εὐλογίαν αὐτοῦ
LA Sed nec aspectu aliquis ex his animalibus bona potest conspicere: effugerunt autem Dei laudem et benedictionem ejus.
EN Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But they have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing.
^19
