Wisdom 13

¹ 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.

² 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.

³ 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.

⁴ 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.

⁵ For from the greatness of the beauty of created things, mankind forms the corresponding perception of their Maker. 1

⁶ 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.

⁷ For they diligently search while living among his works, and they trust their sight that the things that they look at are beautiful.

⁸ But again even they are not to be excused.

⁹ 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?

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ Yes and some 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.

¹² Burning the scraps from his handiwork to cook his food, he eats his fill.

¹³ 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,

¹⁴ or makes it like some worthless animal, smearing it with something red, painting it red, and smearing over every stain in it.

¹⁵ Having made a worthy chamber for it, he sets it in a wall, securing it with iron.

¹⁶ 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).

¹⁷ When he makes his prayer concerning goods and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to speak to that which has no life.

¹⁸ 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.

¹⁹ And for profit in business and good success of his hands, he asks ability from that which has hands with no ability.

¹ BBut all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the workman:

² But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world.

³ With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they: for the first author of beauty made all those things.

⁴ Or if they admired their power, and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:

⁵ For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby. 1

⁶ But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.

⁷ For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen.

⁸ But then again they are not to be pardoned.

⁹ For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?

¹⁰ But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have called gods the works of the hand of men, gold and silver, the inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable stone the work of an ancient hand.

¹¹ Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common uses of life,

¹² And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:

¹³ And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth it, and maketh it like the image of a man:

¹⁴ Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermilion, and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:

¹⁵ And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron,

¹⁶ Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help.

¹⁷ And then maketh prayer to it, enquiring concerning his substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life:

¹⁸ And for health he maketh supplication to the weak, and for life prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is unprofitable:

¹⁹ And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh him that is unable to do any thing.