Wisdom 14

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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, another, thinking to sail, and beginning to make his voyage through the raging waves, calls upon a piece of wood more fragile than the wood that carries him.
2 For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by his skill.	2 For this is what desire has contrived to be acquired, and the craftsman has formed its understanding.
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 your providence, O Father, governs, because you have provided for both a way in the sea and a very reliable path among the waves,
4 Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea though a man went to sea without art.	4 revealing that you are able to save out of all things, even if someone were to go to sea without skill.
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 But, so that the works of your wisdom might not be empty, therefore, men trust their souls even to a little piece of wood, and, crossing over the sea by raft, they are set free.
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 But, from the beginning, when the proud giants were perishing, the hope of the world, fleeing by boat, gave back to future ages a seed of birth, which was governed by your hand.
7 For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh.	7 For blessed is the wood through which justice is made.
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, through the hand that makes the idol, both it, and he who made it, is accursed: he, indeed, because it has been served by him, and it, because, though it is fragile, it is called ‘god.’
9 But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.	9 But the impious and his impiety are similarly offensive to God.
10 For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall suffer torments.	10 For that which is made, together with him who made it, will suffer torments.
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 Because of this, and according to the idolatries of the nations, there will be no refuge, for the things created by God have been made into hatred, and into a temptation to the souls of men, and into a snare for the feet of the foolish.
12 For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and the invention of them is the corruption of life.	12 For the beginning of fornication is the search for idols, and from their invention comes corruption of life.
13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.	13 For they neither existed from the beginning, nor will they exist forever.
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 great emptiness of men they came into the world, and therefore their end is soon discovered.
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, embittered with the suffering of grief, made an image of his son, who had been suddenly taken away from him, and then, he who had died as a man, now begins to be worshiped as if a god, and so rites and sacrifices are established among his servants.
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 Then, in the course of time, iniquity gains strength within this erroneous custom, so that this error has been observed as if it were a law, and this figment has been worshiped at the command of tyrants.
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 And those, whom men could not openly honor because they were far off, a likeness of them was carried from far off, and from it they made a similar image of the king that they wanted to honor, so that, by their solicitude, they might worship he who was absent, just 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 Yet, it passes into their care, and those whom they did not know, they love because of the excellence of the artist.
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, wishing to please the one who hired him, embellished his art, so as to fashion a better likeness.
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 But the multitude of men, brought together by the beauty of the work, now considered him to be a god, whom they had formerly honored as a man.
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 the deception of human life: that men, serving either their own inclination or their kings, assigned the unutterable name to stones and wood.
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 And it was not enough for them to go astray concerning the knowledge of God, but also, while living in a great war of ignorance, they call so many and such great evils ‘peace.’
23 For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,	23 For either they sacrifice their own sons, or they make dark sacrifices, or they hold vigils full of madness,
24 So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:	24 so that now they neither protect life, nor preserve a clean marriage, but one kills another through envy, or grieves 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 And all things are mixed together: blood, murder, theft and fraud, corruption and infidelity, disturbances and perjury, disorder within good things,
26 Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleaness.	26 forgetfulness of God, pollution of souls, alteration of procreation, inconstancy of marriage, unnatural adultery and homosexuality.
27 For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the beginning and end of all evil.	27 For the worship of unspeakable idols is the cause, and the beginning 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 they either act with madness while happy, or they insistently speak wild lies, or they live unjustly, or they are quick to commit perjury.
29 For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.	29 For, while they trust in idols, which are without a soul, vowing evil, they hope not to be harmed themselves.
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 Therefore, from both sides it will fittingly happen, because they have thought evil of God, paying attention to idols, and because they have sworn unjustly, in guile despising justice.
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 swearing is not virtue, but sinning always comes around to a punishment according to the transgression of the unjust.