Wisdom of Solomon 14:6-26
-
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.
-
7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.
-
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.
-
9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.
-
10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.
-
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.
-
12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.
-
13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
-
14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
-
19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;
-
24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.
-
25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
-
26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.