Wisdom 13

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 But all men are vain, who are not under the knowledge of God, and who, from these good things that are seen, were not able to understand he who is, nor, by paying attention to the works, did they acknowledge he who was the artisan.	1 But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the workman:
2 Instead, they had considered either the fire, or the air, or the atmosphere, or the circle of stars, or the great sea, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world.	2 But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world.
3 If they, being delighted by such sights, supposed them to be gods, let them know how great the Lord of them is in splendor. For he who created all things is the author of beauty.	3 With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they: for the first author of beauty made all those things.
4 Or, if they wondered at their power and their effects, let them understand by these things, that he who created them is mightier than they are.	4 Or if they admired their power and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:
5 For, by the greatness of the creation and its beauty, the creator of these will be able to be seen discernibly.	5 For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.
6 Yet, up to this point, the complaint about this is lesser. For perhaps they made a mistake in this, while desiring and seeking to find God.	6 But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.
7 And, indeed, having some familiarity with him through his works, they search, and they are persuaded, because the things that they are seeing are good.	7 For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen.
8 But, then again, neither can their debt be ignored.	8 But then again they are not to be pardoned.
9 For, if they were able to know enough so that they could value the universe, how is it they did not easily discover the Lord of it?	9 For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?
10 Yet they are unhappy, and their hope is among the dead, for they have called ‘gods’ the works of the hands of men, gold and silver, the inventions of skill, and the likeness of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.	10 But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have called gods the works of the hands of men, gold and silver, the inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable stone the work of an ancient hand.
11 Or, it is as if a craftsman, a workman of the forest, had cut straight wood, and, with his expertise, shaved off all of its bark, and, with his skill, diligently fashioned a vessel, practical for use in life,	11 Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common uses of life,
12 and even the remains of his work were exhausted in the preparation of food;	12 And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:
13 and, from the remainder of this, which has become useful for nothing, a curved piece of wood and full of knots, he diligently carves it in his spare time, and, through the knowledge of his art, forms it and makes it in the image of a man,	13 And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth it and maketh it like the image of a man:
14 or something comparable to an animal, thoroughly rubbing it with red ochre, to make it red with the color of the pigment, and to cover every imperfection which is in it;	14 Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermillion, and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:
15 and it is as if he made a fitting resting place for it, even setting it in a wall and fastening it with iron,	15 And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron,
16 providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself, for it is an image and it is in need of help.	16 Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help.
17 And then, making an offering, he inquires about his wealth, and about his sons, and about marriage. And he is not ashamed to talk to that which has no soul.	17 And then maketh prayer to it, inquiring concerning his substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life:
18 And for health, indeed, something unhealthy is being prayed to, and for life, he petitions what is dead, and for help, he calls upon something helpless,	18 And for health he maketh suspplication to the weak, and for life prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is unprofitable:
19 and for a good journey, he entreats that which is unable to walk, and for acquiring, and for working, and for success in all things, he entreats that which is useless in all things.	19 And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh him that is unable to do any thing.