The Wisdom of Solomon

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

- Chapter 13 -

Idolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods the works of the hands of men.

For truly all men who had no perception of God were foolish by nature, and didn’t gain power to know him who exists from the good things that are seen. They didn’t recognize the architect from his works.

But they thought that either fire, or wind, or swift air, or circling stars, or raging water, or luminaries of heaven were gods that rule the world.

If it was through delight in their beauty that they took them to be gods, let them know how much better their Sovereign Lord is than these, for the first author of beauty created them.

But if it was through astonishment at their power and influence, then let them understand from them how much more powerful he who formed them is.

For from the greatness of the beauty of created things, mankind forms the corresponding perception of their Maker.(a)

But yet for these men there is but small blame, for they too perhaps go astray while they are seeking God and desiring to find him.

For they diligently search while living among his works, and they trust their sight that the things that they look at are beautiful.

But again even they are not to be excused.

For if they had power to know so much, that they should be able to explore the world, how is it that they didn’t find the Sovereign Lord sooner?

But they were miserable, and their hopes were in dead things, who called them gods which are works of men’s hands, gold and silver, skillfully made, and likenesses of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.

Yes and some(b) woodcutter might saw down a tree that is easily moved, skillfully strip away all its bark, and fashion it in attractive form, make a useful vessel to serve his life’s needs.

Burning the scraps from his handiwork to cook his food, he eats his fill.

Taking a discarded scrap which served no purpose, a crooked piece of wood and full of knots, he carves it with the diligence of his idleness, and shapes it by the skill of his idleness. He shapes it in the image of a man,

or makes it like some worthless animal, smearing it with something red, painting it red, and smearing over every stain in it.

Having made a worthy chamber for it, he sets it in a wall, securing it with iron.

He plans for it that it may not fall down, knowing that it is unable to help itself (for truly it is an image, and needs help).

When he makes his prayer concerning goods and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to speak to that which has no life.

Yes, for health, he calls upon that which is weak. For life, he implores that which is dead. For aid, he supplicates that which has no experience. For a good journey, he asks that which can’t so much as move a step.

And for profit in business and good success of his hands, he asks ability from that which has hands with no ability.

Footnotes

(a)13:5 Gr. is the first maker of them seen.

(b)13:11 Gr. carpenter who is a woodcutter.

Idolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods the works of the hands of men.

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;

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.

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.

But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them understand by them, how much mightier he is that made them.

For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures proportionably the maker of them is seen.

But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they peradventure err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.

For being conversant in his works they search him diligently, and believe their sight: because the things are beautiful that are seen.

Howbeit neither are they to be pardoned.

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?

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.

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;

And after spending the refuse of his work to dress his meat, hath filled himself;

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;

Or made it like some vile beast, laying it over with vermilion, and with paint colouring it red, and covering every spot therein;

And when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in a wall, and made it fast with iron:

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:

Then maketh he prayer for his goods, for his wife and children, and is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life.

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:

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.