Wis 15:1 But thou, O God, art gracious and true,
longsuffering, and in mercy ordering all things,
Wis 15:2 For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power: but we will not
sin, knowing that we are counted thine.
Wis 15:3 For to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy power
is the root of immortality.
Wis 15:4 For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us, nor an
image spotted with divers colours, the painter's fruitless labour;
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 15:10 His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his life
of less value than clay:
Wis 15:11 Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him
an active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.
Wis 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.
Wis 15:13 For this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and
graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.
Wis 15:14 And all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subjection,
are most foolish, and are more miserable than very babes.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 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.
Wis 15:18 Yea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful: for
being compared together, some are worse than others.
Wis 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.