Geneva(i)
1 Bvt thou, O our God, art gracious and true, long suffering, and gouernest all things by mercie.
2 Though we sinne, yet are we thine: for we knowe thy power: but we sinne not, knowing that we are counted thine.
3 For to know thee, is perfite righteousnes, and to know thy power is the roote of immortalitie.
4 For neither hath the wicked inuention of men deceiued vs, nor the vnprofitable labour of the painters, nor an image spotted with diuers colours.
5 Whose fight stirreth vp the desire of the ignorant: so that he coueteth the forme that hath no life, of a dead image.
6 They that loue such wicked things are worthie to haue such things to trust to, and they that make them, and they that desire them, and they that worship them.
7 The potter also tempereth soft earth, and facioneth euery vessell with labour to our vse: but of the same clay he maketh both the vessels, that serue to cleane vses, and the contrary likewise: but whereto euery vessell serueth, the potter is ye iudge.
8 So by his wicked labour he maketh a vaine God of the same clay: euen he, which a litle afore was made of earth himselfe, and within a litle while after goeth thither againe whence he was taken, when he shall make account for ye lone of his life.
9 Notwithstanding he careth not for the labour he taketh, nor that his life is short, but he striueth with the goldsmithes, and siluersmithes, and counterfeiteth, the coppersmithes, and taketh it for an honour to make deceiueable things.
10 His heart is ashes, & his hope is more vile then earth, & his life is lesse worthy of honour then clay.
11 For he knoweth not his owne maker, that gaue him his soule, that had power and breathed in him the breath of life.
12 But they count our life to be but a pastime, and our conuersation as a market, where there is gaine: for they say we ought to be getting on euery side, though it be by euill meanes.
13 Nowe he that of earth maketh fraile vessels and images, knoweth himselfe to offend aboue all other.
14 All the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subiection, are most vnwise, and more miserable then the very fooles.
15 For they iudge all the idoles of the nations to be gods, which neither haue eye sight to see, nor noses to smell, nor eares to heare, nor fingers of handes to grope, and their feete are slowe to goe.
16 For man made them, and he that hath but a borowed spirite, facioned them: but no man can make a God like vnto himselfe.
17 For seeing he is but mortall himselfe, it is but mortall that he maketh with vnrighteous hands: he himselfe is better then they whom he worshippeth: for he liued, but they neuer liued.
18 Yea, they worshipped beastes also, which are their most enemies, and which are the worst, if they be compared vnto others, because they haue none vnderstanding.
19 Neither haue they any beautie to be desired in respect of other beastes: for they are destitute of Gods praise, and of his blessing.