Wisdom of Solomon
14:1 Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the
raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel
that carrieth him.
14:2 For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his
skill.
14:3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in
the sea, and a safe path in the waves;
14:4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man went to
sea without art.
14:5 Nevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom should be
idle, and therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood,
and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved.
14:6 For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of
the world governed by thy hand escaped in a weak vessel, and left to all
ages a seed of generation.
14:7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.
14:8 But that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he that made
it: he, because he made it; and it, because, being corruptible, it was
called god.
14:9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.
14:10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.
14:11 Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a
visitation: because in the creature of God they are become an
abomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the
feet of the unwise.
14:12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication,
and the invention of them the corruption of life.
14:13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for
ever.
14:14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore
shall they come shortly to an end.
14:15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an
image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was
then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies
and sacrifices.
14:16 Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a
law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings.
14:17 Whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they
took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image
of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness
they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.
14:18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the
ignorant to more superstition.
14:19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his
skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
14:20 And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for
a god, which a little before was but honoured.
14:21 And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving either
calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and stocks the
incommunicable name.
14:22 Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge
of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so
great plagues called they peace.
14:23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret
ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;
14:24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either
one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.
14:25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter,
theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
14:26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls,
changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless
uncleanness.
14:27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the
cause, and the end, of all evil.
14:28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live
unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.
14:29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they
swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.
14:30 Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they
thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore
in deceit, despising holiness.
14:31 For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just
vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.
