The Wisdom of Solomon
Wisdom of Solomon 14
Chapter XIV · Vol. III, pp. 1553–1554
1 Though men do not pray to their ships, yet they are saved rather by them than by their idols. 8 Idols are accursed, and so are the makers of them. 14 The beginning of idolatry, and the effects thereof. 30 God will punish them that swear falsely by their idols.
1 Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood, more rotten than the 1vessel that carrieth him.
1 Or, ship.
2 For verily desire of gain devised 2that, and the workman built it by his skill.
2 Or, vessel, or, ship.
3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast 3made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves;
3 Ex. 14. 22.
4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: 4yea, though a man went to sea without art.
4 See Ps. 89. 9.
5 Nevertheless thou wouldest not that works of thy wisdom should be idle, and therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved.
6 5For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world, governed by thy hand, 6escaped in a weak vessel, and left to all ages a seed of generation.
5 Gen. 6. 4.
6 Heb. 11. 7.
7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.
8 But 7that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it; and it, because, being corruptible, it was called God.
7 Ps. 115. 8. Baruch 6. 4.
11 Therefore even *upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: because in the creature of God they are become an abomination, and †stumbling-blocks to the souls of men, and a ‡snare to the feet of the unwise.
12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.
14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made 1an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices.
1 ch. 13. 13.
16 Thus 2in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, 3and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of 4kings.
17 Whom men could not honour 5in presence, because they dwelt far off, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king 6whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.
5 Or, in sight.
6 Rom. 1. 25.
18 Also the singular diligence of 7the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
19 For he, peradventure, willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance 8of the best fashion.
8 Gr. to the better.
20 And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honoured as a man.
21 And this was an occasion to 9deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and stocks the incommunicable *name.
9 Gen. 4. 13. Rev. 12. 9.
* Or, of God. Isa. 45. 22.
22 Moreover, this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God: but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.
23 For whilst they †slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites:
† Deut. 18. 10. Jer. 7. 9. & 19. 4.
24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traitorously, or grieved him by adultery.
25 So that there reigned in all men ‡without exception, ||blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
‡ Or, confusedly.
|| John 8. 44.
26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of 1kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
1 Or, sex.
27 For the worshipping of idols 2not to be named is 3the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
2 Gr. nameless, Ex. 23. 13.
3 ver. 12, 13.
28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.
29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols 4which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.
4 ch. 13. 10.
30 Howbeit, for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, 5giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, 6despising holiness.
5 Or, devoted.
6 Heb. 12. 14.
31 For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.