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English Bible

Wisdom 14

  1. 1Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calls upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel that carries him.
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  2. 2For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill.
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  3. 3But your providence, O Father, governs it: for you have made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves;
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  4. 4Shewing that you can save from all danger: yes, though a man went to sea without are.
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  5. 5Nevertheless you would not that the works of your 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. 6For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world governed by your hand escaped in a weak vessel, and left to all ages a seed of generation.
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  7. 7For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness comes.
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  8. 8But 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. 9For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful to God.
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  10. 10For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.
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  11. 11Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: because in the creature of God they are become an abomination, and stumbling blocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.
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  12. 12For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.
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  13. 13For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
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  14. 14For 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. 15For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he has made an image of his child soon taken away, now honored 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. 16Thus 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. 17Whom men could not honor in presence, because they lived far off, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honored, 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. 18Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
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  19. 19For he, perhaps willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
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  20. 20And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honored.
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  21. 21And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe to stones and stocks the incommunicable name.
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  22. 22Moreover 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. 23For while they killed their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;
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  24. 24They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one killed another traitorously, or grieved him by adultery.
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  25. 25So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
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  26. 26Disquieting 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. 27For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
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  28. 28For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.
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  29. 29For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.
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  30. 30Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.
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  31. 31For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punishes always the offense of the ungodly.
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