The Wisdom of Solomon14:1 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.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:2 For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill:
The Wisdom of Solomon14:3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the Sea, and a safe path in the waves:
The Wisdom of Solomon14:4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea though a man went to Sea without art.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:5 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.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:6 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.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:7 For blessed is the wood, whereby righteousness cometh.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:8 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.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:10 For that which is made, shall be punished together with him that made it.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:11 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 stumbling blocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honored him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him, ceremonies and sacrifices.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:16 Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshiped by the commandments of kings,
The Wisdom of Solomon14:17 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 honored, to the end that by this their forwardness, they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:20 And so the multitude allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honored as a man.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:21 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.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:22 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.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites
The Wisdom of Solomon14:24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery:
The Wisdom of Solomon14:25 So that there reigned in all men without exception, blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
The Wisdom of Solomon14:26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:27 For the worshiping of idols not to be named, is the beginning, the cause, and the end of all evil.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life, though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:30 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.
The Wisdom of Solomon14:31 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.