Wis 13:1 Surely vain are all men by nature, who
are ignorant of God, and could not out of the good things that are seen know
him that is: neither by considering the works did they acknowledge the
workmaster;
Wis 13:2 But deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circle of
the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of heaven, to be the gods
which govern the world.
Wis 13:3 With whose beauty if they being delighted took them to be gods; let
them know how much better the Lord of them is: for the first author of
beauty hath created them.
Wis 13:4 But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them
understand by them, how much mightier he is that made them.
Wis 13:5 For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures proportionably the
maker of them is seen.
Wis 13:6 But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they
peradventure err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.
Wis 13:7 For being conversant in his works they search him diligently, and
believe their sight: because the things are beautiful that are seen.
Wis 13:8 Howbeit neither are they to be pardoned.
Wis 13:9 For if they were able to know so much, that they could aim at the
world; how did they not sooner find out the Lord thereof?
Wis 13:10 But miserable are they, and in dead things is their hope, who call
them gods, which are the works of men's hands, gold and silver, to shew art
in, and resemblances of beasts, or a stone good for nothing, the work of an
ancient hand.
Wis 13:11 Now a carpenter that felleth timber, after he hath sawn down a
tree meet for the purpose, and taken off all the bark skilfully round about,
and hath wrought it handsomely, and made a vessel thereof fit for the
service of man's life;
Wis 13:12 And after spending the refuse of his work to dress his meat, hath
filled himself;
Wis 13:13 And taking the very refuse among those which served to no use,
being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, hath carved it diligently,
when he had nothing else to do, and formed it by the skill of his
understanding, and fashioned it to the image of a man;
Wis 13:14 Or made it like some vile beast, laying it over with vermilion,
and with paint colouring it red, and covering every spot therein;
Wis 13:15 And when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in a wall,
and made it fast with iron:
Wis 13:16 For he provided for it that it might not fall, knowing that it was
unable to help itself; for it is an image, and hath need of help:
Wis 13:17 Then maketh he prayer for his goods, for his wife and children,
and is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life.
Wis 13:18 For health he calleth upon that which is weak: for life prayeth to
that which is dead; for aid humbly beseecheth that which hath least means to
help: and for a good journey he asketh of that which cannot set a foot
forward:
Wis 13:19 And for gaining and getting, and for good success of his hands,
asketh ability to do of him, that is most unable to do any thing.