Wisdom 13

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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 For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists, nor did they recognize the craftsman while paying heed to his works;
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 they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, of the luminaries of heaven were 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 If through delight in the beauty of these things men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty 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 And if men were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is he who formed 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 from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.
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 Yet these men are little to be blamed, for perhaps they go astray while seeking God and desiring 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 as they live among his works they keep searching, and they trust in what they see, because the things that are seen are beautiful.
8 But, then again, neither can their debt be ignored.	8 Yet again, not even they are to be excused;
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 had the power to know so much that they could investigate the world, how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things?
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, with their hopes set on dead things, are the men who give the name "gods" to the works of men's hands, gold and silver fashioned with skill, and likenesses of animals, or a useless 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 A skilled woodcutter may saw down a tree easy to handle and skilfully strip off all its bark, and then with pleasing workmanship make a useful vessel that serves life's needs,
12 and even the remains of his work were exhausted in the preparation of food;	12 and burn the castoff pieces of his work to prepare his food, and eat his fill.
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 But a castoff piece from among them, useful for nothing, a stick crooked and full of knots, he takes and carves with care in his leisure, and shapes it with skill gained in idleness; he forms 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 makes it like some worthless animal, giving it a coat of red paint and coloring its surface red and covering every blemish in it with paint;
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 then he makes for it a niche that befits it, and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there 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 So he takes thought for it, that it may not fall, because he knows that it cannot help itself, for it is only an image and has 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 When he prays about possessions and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing.
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 appeals to a thing that is weak; for life he prays to a thing that is dead; for aid he entreats a thing that is utterly inexperienced; for a prosperous journey, a thing that cannot take a step;
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 for money-making and work and success with his hands he asks strength of a thing whose hands have no strength.