1Forsooth all men be vain, that is, void of truth, in which the knowing of God is not; and of these things that be seen good, they might not understand him, that is, and they perceiving the works knew not, who was the worker [or craftsman];

2but they guessed gods governors of the world, either the fire, either the wind, either the air made swift, either the compass of stars, either full much water, either the sun and moon;

3and if they delighted in the fairness of those things, and guessed them gods, know they, how much the Lord of those things is fairer than those; for why the engenderer [or begetter] of fairness made all these things.

4Either if they wondered on the virtue and works of those things, understand they of those [things], that he that made these things, is stronger than those;

5for by the greatness [or muchliness] of fairness and of creature the Creator of these might be seen knowingly, either might be known by his works.

6But nevertheless yet in these men is less complaint; for they err, in hap seeking God, and willing to find.

7For when they live in his works, they seek, and hold for a sooth, that those things be good, that be seen.

8Again soothly it oweth not to be forgiven to these men.

9For if they might know so much, that they might guess the world, how found they not lightlier the Lord thereof?

10forsooth they be cursed, and the hope of them is among dead men, that called gods the works of men’s hands, gold, and silver, the finding of craft, and [the] likenesses of beasts, either a stone unprofitable [or unprofitable stone], the work of an eld [or old] hand.

11Either if any craftsman, a carpenter, heweth down of the woods a straight tree, and eraseth away perfectly all the rind thereof [or taughtly pare away all the rind], and useth his craft diligently, and maketh a vessel full profitable into conversation of life;

12soothly he useth the remnants of this work to the making ready of meat;

13and the residue of these things, which he maketh to no work [or that to none use], a crooked tree, and full of knots, he engraveth diligently by his voidness, that is, made of him by his engraving, and by the knowing of his craft he figureth it, and likeneth it to the image of a man,

14either maketh it like to some of beasts, and anointeth with red colour, and maketh the colour thereof ruddy with painture, and anointeth, [or daubing or painting] each spot which is in it,

15and maketh to it a worthy dwelling place, and setteth it in the wall, and he fasteneth it with iron,

16lest peradventure it fall down; and he purveyeth for it, and knoweth, that it may not help itself; for it is an image, and help is needful thereto.

17And he maketh a vow, and inquireth of his chattel, and of his sons, and of weddings; he is not ashamed to speak with him, that is without soul;

18and soothly for health he beseecheth a thing unmighty [or feeble], and for life he prayeth a thing without life [or for life he prayeth the dead], and he calleth an unprofitable thing into help. And for journey he asketh of that thing, that may not go;

19and of getting [or purchasing], and of working, and of befalling [or the chance] of all things he asketh of him, which is unprofitable in all things.