Wis 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.
Wis 14:2 For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by
his skill.
Wis 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;
Wis 14:4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man
went to sea without art.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 14:7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.
Wis 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.
Wis 14:9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto
God.
Wis 14:10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that
made it.
Wis 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.
Wis 14:12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual
fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.
Wis 14:13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be
for ever.
Wis 14:14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and
therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 14:18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set
forward the ignorant to more superstition.
Wis 14:19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced
all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 14:23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret
ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;
Wis 14:24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but
either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.
Wis 14:25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood,
manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults,
perjury,
Wis 14:26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of
souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless
uncleanness.
Wis 14:27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the
cause, and the end, of all evil.
Wis 14:28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or
live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.