The Koine Bible

For all men are vain by nature, in whom there was ignorance of God, and from the visible good things they were not able to know the One who is, neither by attending to the works did they recognize the craftsman

but either fire or spirit or swift air or the circle of stars or violent water or the luminaries of heaven, the rulers of the world, they considered gods

For if, delighting in their beauty, they supposed these to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Master; for the creator of beauty formed them

But if, being amazed at their power and activity, let them understand from them how much more powerful is the one who made them.

For from the greatness and beauty of created things the maker of them is seen proportionately.

But nevertheless, on these there is a small blame; for they themselves perhaps go astray, seeking God and wishing to find him

For by their works they live among them, they investigate and are persuaded by the sight that the things seen are good.

But again, even they themselves are not excusable

For if they were able to know so much as to be able to conjecture the Master of this age, how did they not sooner find him?

But miserable are their hopes also among the dead, they who called gods the works of human hands, gold and silver, the exercise of art, and likenesses of animals, or useless stone, the work of an ancient hand

But if even some woodcutter, a carpenter, having cut down a tree that is easy to move, has planed off all its bark with skill and, having worked it up, has neatly fashioned it into a useful vessel for the service of life

and having spent the waste remnants of the work for the preparation of food, he was filled

but taking the cast-off of them, a crooked piece of wood, and grown together with knots, he carved it with care in his leisure and, by skill of understanding, fashioned it; he made it like an image of a man

or he has likened it to some worthless animal, rubbing it with red ochre and reddening its color with seaweed, and having smeared over every blemish that is in it

and having made for him a dwelling worthy of him, he set it in a wall, securing it with iron

so that it may not fall he has forethought for it, knowing that it is unable to help itself, for indeed it is an image and needs help

But concerning possessions and marriages and children, praying, he is not ashamed, speaking to the lifeless, and concerning health he calls upon the weak thing.

and concerning life it treats the dead as worthy, and concerning help it entreats the most inexperienced one, and concerning travel it the one not even able to make use of a step

But concerning acquisition and work and success of hands, the most inactive one asks for good fortune for the hands