✠ The Douay-Rheims Bible
✠ Wisdom 14
Chapters
WISD 14:1 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.
WISD 14:2 For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by his skill.
WISD 14:3 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,
WISD 14:4 Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea though a man went to sea without art.
WISD 14:5 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.
WISD 14:6 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.
WISD 14:7 For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh.
WISD 14:8 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.
WISD 14:9 But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.
WISD 14:10 For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall suffer torments.
WISD 14:11 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.
WISD 14:12 For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and the invention of them is the corruption of life.
WISD 14:13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
WISD 14:14 For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore they shall be found to come shortly to an end.
WISD 14:15 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.
WISD 14:16 Then in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of tyrants.
WISD 14:17 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.
WISD 14:18 And to worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.
WISD 14:19 For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner.
WISD 14:20 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.
WISD 14:21 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.
WISD 14:22 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.
WISD 14:23 For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,
WISD 14:24 So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:
WISD 14:25 And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft and dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, disquieting of the good,
WISD 14:26 Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleaness.
WISD 14:27 For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the beginning and end of all evil.
WISD 14:28 For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.
WISD 14:29 For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.
WISD 14:30 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.