Wisdom of Solomon 14:1-18
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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.
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2 For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill.
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3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves;
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4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man went to sea without art.
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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.
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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.
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7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.
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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.
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9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.
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10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.
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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 stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.
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12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.
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13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
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14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
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15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices.
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16 Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings.
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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 honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.
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18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.