Wisdom 13

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	KING JAMES BIBLE
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 Surely vain are all men by nature, who are ignorant of God, and could not out of the good things that are seen know him that is: neither by considering the works did they acknowledge the workmaster;
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 deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of heaven, to be the gods which govern 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 better the Lord of them is: for the first author of beauty hath created them.
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 But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them understand by them, how much mightier he is that made them.
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 and beauty of the creatures proportionably the maker of them is seen.
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 for this they are the less to be blamed: for they peradventure 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 in his works they search him diligently, and believe their sight: because the things are beautiful that are seen.
8 But, then again, neither can their debt be ignored.	8 Howbeit neither are they 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, that they could aim at the world; how did they not sooner 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 miserable are they, and in dead things is their hope, who call them gods, which are the works of men's hands, gold and silver, to shew art in, and resemblances of beasts, or a stone good for nothing, 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 Now a carpenter that felleth timber, after he hath sawn down a tree meet for the purpose, and taken off all the bark skilfully round about, and hath wrought it handsomely, and made a vessel thereof fit for the service of man's life;
12 and even the remains of his work were exhausted in the preparation of food;	12 And after spending the refuse of his work to dress his meat, hath filled himself;
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 the very refuse among those which served to no use, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, hath carved it diligently, when he had nothing else to do, and formed it by the skill of his understanding, and fashioned it to 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 made it like some vile beast, laying it over with vermilion, and with paint colouring it red, and covering every spot therein;
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 when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in a wall, and made it fast 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 For he provided for it that it might not fall, knowing that it was 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 Then maketh he prayer for his goods, for his wife and children, and 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 For health he calleth upon that which is weak: for life prayeth to that which is dead; for aid humbly beseecheth that which hath least means to help: and for a good journey he asketh of that which cannot set a foot forward:
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 gaining and getting, and for good success of his hands, asketh ability to do of him, that is most unable to do any thing.