15:1 [Tu autem, Deus noster, suavis et verus es, patiens, et in misericordia disponens omnia.
*H But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering all things in mercy.
Ver. 1. Mercy. The pagans have no real respect for their gods: they fear them not. C. — But we know that Thou governest all, (H.) and will punish us, if we transgress. C.
15:2 Etenim si peccaverimus, tui sumus, scientes magnitudinem tuam ; et si non peccaverimus, scimus quoniam apud te sumus computati.
For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy greatness: and if we sin not, we know that we are counted with thee.
15:3 Nosse enim te, consummata justitia est ; et scire justitiam et virtutem tuam, radix est immortalitatis.
For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and thy power, is the root of immortality.
15:4 Non enim in errorem induxit nos hominum malae artis excogitatio, nec umbra picturae labor sine fructu, effigies sculpta per varios colores :
*H For the invention of mischievous men hath not deceived us, nor the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with divers colours,
Ver. 4. Us. He wrote after the captivity, when the Jews abhorred idolatry, (C.) as they might also do at the beginning of Solomon's reign. H. — Picture. It is not certain that the art was known in the days of Moses, or that he expressly forbade it. Pliny says it was discovered at Corinth, by making the outlines of a man's shadow on the wall. Afterwards one colour was used, till a variety was found to represent things more perfectly, (L. xxxv. 3. 4.) so as to deceive the senses, for which reason it is styled a fruitless labour. C.
15:5 cujus aspectus insensato dat concupiscentiam, et diligit mortuae imaginis effigiem sine anima.
The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it, and he loveth the lifeless figure of a dead image.
15:6 Malorum amatores digni sunt qui spem habeant in talibus, et qui faciunt illos, et qui diligunt, et qui colunt.]
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.
15:7 [Sed et figulus mollem terram premens, laboriose fingit ad usus nostros unumquodque vas ; et de eodem luto fingit quae munda sunt in usum vasa, et similiter quae his sunt contraria : horum autem vasorum quis sit usus, judex est figulus.
The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh 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.
* Footnote
* Romans
9 : 21
Or hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour?
15:8 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 animae debitum quam habebat.
And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent him, shall be called for again.
15:9 Sed cura est illi non quia laboraturus est, nec quoniam brevis illi vita est : sed concertatur aurificibus et argentariis ; sed et aerarios imitatur, et gloriam praefert, quoniam res supervacuas fingit.
But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory to make vain things.
15:10 Cinis est enim cor ejus, et terra supervacua spes illius, et luto vilior vita ejus :
*H For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth and his life more base than clay:
Ver. 10. Clay. In death, those who have trusted in creatures, shall be abandoned by all.
15:11 quoniam ignoravit qui se finxit, et qui inspiravit illi animam quae operatur, et qui insufflavit ei spiritum vitalem.
*H Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, and him that inspired into him the soul that worketh, and that breathed into him a living spirit.
Ver. 11. Worketh. God gives life, and also the rational soul. Gen. ii. 7.
15:12 Sed et aestimaverunt ludum esse vitam nostram, et conversationem vitae compositam ad lucrum, et oportere undecumque etiam ex malo acquirere.
*H 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.
Ver. 12. Evil. This is the maxim of worldlings. C. — Virtus post nummos. Hor. i. ep. 1. — Our occupations are like those of children. They presently perish, or we must quit them. S. Chrys. hom. xlvii. ad Pop. — We must strive to act our part well. Libertines deem this life a comedy, and represent religion as an imposition. C. — They are like atheists, as they leave the true God, who seek gain by idols. W.
15:13 Hic enim scit se super omnes delinquere, qui ex terrae materia fragilia vasa et sculptilia fingit.
For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods.
15:14 Omnes enim insipientes, et infelices supra modum animae superbi, sunt inimici populi tui, et imperantes illi :
*H But all the enemies of thy people that hold them in subjection, are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure:
Ver. 14. In their pride, they threaten more than they can perform, (Is. xvi. 6.) or they take images to be gods, which infants only imagine are men, as Lactantius observes, quoting Lucilius,—
15:15 quoniam omnia idola nationum deos aestimaverunt, 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.
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.
* Footnote
* Psalms
113 : 5
What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou didst flee: and thou, O Jordan, that thou wast turned back?
* Footnote
* Psalms
134 : 16
They have a mouth, but they speak not: they have eyes, but they see not.
15:16 Homo enim fecit illos ; et qui spiritum mutuatus est, is finxit illos. Nemo enim sibi similem homo poterit deum fingere.
For man made them: and he that borroweth his own breath, fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself.
15:17 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.]
For being mortal himself, he formeth a dead thing with his wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worshippeth, because he indeed hath lived, though he were mortal, but they never.
15:18 [Sed et animalia miserrima colunt ; insensata enim comparata his, illis sunt deteriora.
Moreover, they worship also the vilest creatures: but things without sense, compared to these, are worse than they.
15:19 Sed nec aspectu aliquis ex his animalibus bona potest conspicere : effugerunt autem Dei laudem et benedictionem ejus.]
*H 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.
Ver. 19. Beasts. They are deformed, (H.) and seem to have been cursed by God, like the serpent. Gen. iii. 14. C. — Fled from. Or "have banished" (Lorin.) God's praise, claiming it for themselves. M.