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7. Doth, then, O Lord God of truth, whosoever knoweth those
things therefore please Thee? For unhappy is the man who knoweth all
those things, but knoweth Thee not; but happy is he who knoweth
Thee, though these he may not know. But he who knoweth both Thee
and them is not the happier on account of them, but is happy on account
of Thee only, if knowing Thee he glorify Thee as God, and gives
thanks, and becomes not vain in his thoughts. But as he is happier
who knows how to possess a tree, and for the use thereof renders thanks
to Thee, although he may not know how many cubits high it is, or how
wide it spreads, than he that measures it and counts all its branches,
and neither owns it nor knows or loves its Creator; so a just man,
whose is the entire world of wealth, and who, as having nothing, yet
possesseth all things by cleaving unto Thee, to whom all things are
subservient, though he know not even the circles of the Great Bear,
yet it is foolish to doubt but that he may verily be better than he who
can measure the heavens, and number the stars, and weigh the
elements, but is forgetful of Thee, "who hast set in order all
things in number, weight, and measure."
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