Wisdom 14

DOUAI-RHEIMS	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more frail than the wood that carrieth him.	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.
2 For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by his skill.	2 For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill.
3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves,	3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves;
4 Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea though a man went to sea without art.	4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man went to sea without art.
5 But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men also trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea by ship are saved.	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.
6 And from the beginning also when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand, left to the world seed of generation.	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, by which justice cometh.	7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.
8 But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is called a god.	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 But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.	9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.
10 For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall suffer torments.	10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.
11 Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the Gentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination, and a temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.	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 beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and the invention of them is the corruption of life.	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.	13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
14 For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore they shall be found to come shortly to an end.	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 being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself the image of his son who was quickly taken away: and him who then had died as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him rites and sacrifices among his servants.	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 Then in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of tyrants.	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 And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an express image of the king whom they had a mind to honour: that by this their diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent.	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 And to worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.	18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
19 For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner.	19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
20 And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the work, took him now for a god that a little before was but honoured as a man.	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 the occasion of deceiving human life: for men serving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable name to stones and wood.	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 And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so many and so great evils peace.	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 either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,	23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;
24 So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:	24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.
25 And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft and dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, disquieting of the good,	25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
26 Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleaness.	26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
27 For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the beginning and end of all evil.	27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
28 For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.	28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.
29 For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.	29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.
30 But for two things they shall be justly punished, because they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn unjustly, in guile despising justice.	30 Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.
31 For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the just vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the unjust.	31 For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.