The. holie. Bible. conteynyng the olde Testament and the newe.

¶The .xv. Chapter.

¶The voyce of the faythfull praysing the mercy of God, by whose grace they serue not idols.

[unspec A] 1 BVt thou O our God art gratious, true, and long suffring, and in mercy ordrest thou all thinges.

2 Though we sinne, yet are we thyne, for we knowe thy strength: but we wyll not sinne, because we knowe we are counted thyne.

3 For to knowe thee, is perfect righte∣ousnes: yea to knowe thy power, is the roote of immortalitie.

4 As * 1.1 for the thing that men haue found out through their euyll science it hath not deceaued vs, nor the paynters vn∣profitable labour [to wit] an image * 1.2 spotted with diuers colours,

5 Whose sight entiseth the ignoraunt to lust after it, and he desireth the “ 1.3 picture of a dead image that hath no breath.

6 Both they that make them, they that desire them, and they that worship them, loue euyls, and are worthy to [unspec B] haue suche thinges to trust vpon.

7 For the potter tempereth soft earth, laboureth it, and geueth it the fashion, of whatsoeuer vessell serueth for our vse: and of the selfe same clay he ma∣keth both the vessels that serue for cleane vses, and also such as serue to the contrary: wherevnto euery vessell ser∣ueth, the potter hym selfe beyng the iudge.

8 So by his wicked labour he maketh a vayne god of the same clay, this doth euen he whiche a litle before was made of earth hym selfe, and within a litle whyle after returneth to the same out of whiche he was taken, when the lone of his lyfe shalbe demaunded from him agayne.

[unspec B] 9 Nothwithstanding, he careth not the more for this that he must labour, nor that his life is short: but striueth to ex∣cell goldsmythes and siluersmythes, and endeuoureth to do like the copper∣smythes, and taketh it for an honour to make * 1.4 deceauable thinges.

10 His heart is but ashes, his hope is more vayne then earth, and his lyfe of * 1.5 lesse honour then clay.

11 Forsomuche as he knoweth not his owne maker that gaue him his soule of power to worke, and breathed in hym the breath of life.

12 But they counted our lyfe but a pa∣stime, and [our] conuersation to be but a market for gayne, and that men should euery way be getting, yea though it were by euyll meanes.

13 Nowe he that of earth maketh frayle vessels and images, knoweth hym selfe to offende aboue all other.

14 Al the enemies of thy people that hold them in subiection, are most vnwyse, & are more miserable then very * 1.6 fooles.

15 For they iudge all the idols of the [unspec C] heathen to be gods, whiche neither haue eyesight to see, nor noses “ 1.7 to smell, nor eares to heare, nor fingers or hands to grope, and as for their feete, they are [to] slowe to go.

16 For man made them, and he that bo∣rowed his owne spirit fashioned them: but no man can make a god lyke vnto hym selfe.

17 For seyng he is but mortall, it is but mortall that he maketh with vnrighte∣ous handes: He him selfe is better then they whom he worshippeth, for he li∣ued as they dyd neuer.

18 Yea they worshipped [such] beastes also as are “ 1.8 most hatefull: for if they were compared for “ 1.9 madnesse, they are worse then others.

19 Neither haue they any beautie why to be desired in respect of other beastes: but are all voyde of the prayse of God, and his blessing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, for nei∣ther the mali∣cious deuise of men deceaued vs.
• * 1.2

  Or, stay∣ned.
• “ 1.3

  Or, fourme·
• * 1.4

  Or, false & counterfaite.
• * 1.5

  Or, more 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  Or very babes.
• “ 1.7

  Or, to draw the ayre, or, breath.
• “ 1.8

  Or, their most enemies.
• “ 1.9

  Or, lacke of vnderstan∣ding.