Wisdom 13

DOUAI-RHEIMS	KING JAMES BIBLE
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:	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 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.	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 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.	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 admired their power and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:	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 beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.	5 For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures proportionably the maker of them is seen.
6 But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.	6 But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they peradventure err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.
7 For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen.	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 they are not to be pardoned.	8 Howbeit neither are they to be pardoned.
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?	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 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.	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 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,	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 useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:	12 And after spending the refuse of his work to dress his meat, hath filled himself;
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:	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 the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermillion, and painting it red, and covering every spot that 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 maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and 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 hath 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 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:	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 he maketh suspplication to the weak, and for life prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is unprofitable:	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 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.	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.