Wisdom of Solomon
15:1 But thou, O God, art gracious and true, longsuffering, and in mercy
ordering all things,
15:2 For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power: but we will not sin,
knowing that we are counted thine.
15:3 For to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy power is the
root of immortality.
15:4 For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us, nor an
image spotted with divers colours, the painter's fruitless labour;
15:5 The sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it, and so they desire
the form of a dead image, that hath no breath.
15:6 Both they that make them, they that desire them, and they that worship
them, are lovers of evil things, and are worthy to have such things to
trust upon.
15:7 For the potter, tempering soft earth, fashioneth every vessel with much
labour for our service: yea, of the same clay he maketh both the vessels
that serve for clean uses, and likewise also all such as serve to the
contrary: but what is the use of either sort, the potter himself is the
judge.
15:8 And employing his labours lewdly, he maketh a vain god of the same clay,
even he which a little before was made of earth himself, and within a
little while after returneth to the same, out when his life which was
lent him shall be demanded.
15:9 Notwithstanding his care is, not that he shall have much labour, nor
that his life is short: but striveth to excel goldsmiths and
silversmiths, and endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and
counteth it his glory to make counterfeit things.
15:10 His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his life of
less value than clay:
15:11 Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an
active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.
15:12 But they counted our life a pastime, and our time here a market for
gain: for, say they, we must be getting every way, though it be by evil
means.
15:13 For this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and graven
images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.
15:14 And all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subjection, are
most foolish, and are more miserable than very babes.
15:15 For they counted all the idols of the heathen to be gods: which neither
have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor ears to hear,
nor fingers of hands to handle; and as for their feet, they are slow to
go.
15:16 For man made them, and he that borrowed his own spirit fashioned them:
but no man can make a god like unto himself.
15:17 For being mortal, he worketh a dead thing with wicked hands: for he
himself is better than the things which he worshippeth: whereas he lived
once, but they never.
15:18 Yea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful: for being
compared together, some are worse than others.
15:19 Neither are they beautiful, so much as to be desired in respect of
beasts: but they went without the praise of God and his blessing.
