Wisdom of Solomon 14:12-27
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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.
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19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
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20 And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honoured.
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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.
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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.
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23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;
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24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.
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25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
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26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
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27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.