14
Again, one preparing to sail, and about to journey over raging waves,
Calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel that carries him;
For that vessel the hunger for gains devised,
And an artificer, even wisdom, built it;
And your providence, O Father, guideth it along,
Because even in the sea you gave a way,
And in the waves a sure path,
Shewing that you can save out of every danger,
That so even without are a man may put to sea;
And it is your will that the works of your wisdom should be not idle;
Therefore also do men intrust their lives to a little piece of wood,,
And passing through the surge on a raft are brought safe to land.
For The in the old time also, when proud giants were perishing,
The hope of the world, taking refuge on a raft,
Left to future the race of men a seed of generations to come,
Your hand guiding the helm.
For blessed has been wood through which comes righteousness:
But the idol made with hands is accursed, itself and he that made it;
Because his was the working, and the corruptible thing was named a god:
For both the ungodly doer and his ungodliness are alike hateful to God;
10 For verily the deed shall be punished together with him that committed it.
11 Therefore also among the idols of the nations shall there be a visitation,
Because, though formed of things which God created, they were made an abomination,
And stumbling blocks to the souls of men,
And a snare to the feet of the foolish.
 
12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of fornication,
And the invention of them the corruption of life:
13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever;
14 For by the vaingloriousness of men they entered into the world,
And therefore was a speedy end devised for them.
15 For a father worn with untimely grief,
Making an image of the child quickly taken away,
Now honored him as a god which was then a dead man,
And delivered to those that were under him mysteries and solemn rites.
16 Afterward the ungodly custom, in process of time grown strong, was kept as a law,
And by the commandments of princes the graven images received worship.
17 And when men could not honor them in presence because they lived far off,
Imagining the likeness from afar,
They made a visible image of the king whom they honored,
That by their zeal they might flatter the absent as if present.
18 But to a yet higher pitch was worship raised even by them that knew him not,
Urged forward by the ambition of the artificer:
19 For he, wishing perhaps to please one in authority,
Used his are to force the likeness toward a greater beauty;
20 And the multitude, allured by reason of the grace of his handywork,
Now accounted as an object of devotion him that a little before was honored as a man.
21 And this became an a hidden danger to life,
Because men, in bondage either to calamity or to tyranny,
Invested stones and stocks with the incommunicable Name.
 
22 Afterward it was not enough for them to go astray as touching the knowledge of God;
But also, while they live in a sore conflict through ignorance of him.
That multitude of evils they call peace.
23 For either slaughtering children in solemn rites, or celebrating secret mysteries,
Or holding frantic revels of strange ordinances,
24 No longer do they keep guard either life or purity of marriage,
But one brings upon another either death by treachery, or anguish by adulterate offspring.
25 And all things confusedly are filled with blood and murder, theft and deceit,
Corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury,
26  troubling turmoil,
Ingratitude for benefits received,
Defiling of souls, confusion of sex,
Disorder in marriage, adultery and wantonness.
27 For the worship of idolsSee those See nameless idols
Is a beginning and cause and end of every evil.
28 For their worshippers either make merry to madness, or prophesy lies,
Or live unrighteously, or lightly forswear themselves.
29 For putting their trust in lifeless idols,
When they have sworn a wicked oath, they expect not to suffer harm.
30 But for both sins shall the just doom pursue them,
Because they had evil thoughts of God by giving heed to idols,
And swore unrighteously in deceit through contempt for holiness.
31 For it is not the power of them by whom men swear,
But it is the that Justice which has regard to them that sin,
That visiteth always the transgression of the unrighteous.
 
 
1:1+1:1Gr.in1:1goodness.1:3+1:3Gr.1:3convicts.1:5+1:5Gr.1:5convicted.1:6+Some1:6authorities readthe1:6spirit of wisdom is loving to man.1:6+1:6Or,1:6reviler1:7+1:7Gr.the1:7inhabited earth.1:8+Some1:8authorities readNor1:8indeed.1:14+Or,1:14allthe1:14racesof1:14creaturesin1:14the world1:14+1:14Or,a1:14royal house1:16+1:16Or,1:16Hades1:16Gr.1:16him.1:16+1:16Or,were1:16consumedwith1:16love of him2:1+2:1Or,2:1among2:1+2:1Or,returned2:1out of Hades2:2+2:2Or,reason2:2is a spark2:2kindledby2:2the beating of our heart2:4+2:4Gr.weighed2:4down.2:5+2:5Or,there2:5is no putting back of our end2:5+2:5Or,comes2:5again2:6+2:6Or,that2:6are2:6+2:6Gr.2:6earnestly.2:6+Some2:6authorities readeven2:6as our youth.2:7+Some2:7authorities read2:7air.2:11+2:11Gr.2:11convicted.2:12+2:12Or,2:12law2:13+2:13Or,2:13child2:20+2:20Gr.there2:20shall be a visitation of him out of his words.2:21+2:21Or,2:21malice2:23+Some2:23authorities read2:23everlastingness.3:9+3:9Or,they3:9that are faithful through love shall abide with him3:10+3:10Or,that3:10which is righteous3:14+3:14Or,the3:14grace of3:14God’s3:14chosen3:14Gr.a3:14chosen grace.3:18+Some3:18authorities read3:18have3:19+3:19Gr.the3:19ends...are grievous.4:1+4:1Gr.of4:1it.4:2+4:2Gr.in4:2the age.4:3+4:3Gr.4:3from4:3+4:3Or,4:3offshoots4:4+4:4Gr.in4:4boughs flourish.4:11+4:11Or,4:11malice4:13+4:13Gr.4:13times.4:14+4:14Or,he4:14hastened4:14him4:14away4:15+4:15Gr.such4:15a thing as this.4:15+4:15Gr.his4:15visitation is with.4:18+4:18Or,be4:18for outrage4:19+4:19Or,be4:19a perpetual desolation4:20+4:20Or,when4:20they reckon up their sins5:2+5:2Or,5:2him5:3+5:3Or,5:3among5:3+5:3Or,reproach,5:3we fools: we accounted5:7+See5:7Proverbs 14:14.5:8+5:8Gr.5:8with5:11+5:11Or,with5:11the violent rush, is passed through by the motion of her wings5:13+5:13Gr.5:13failed.5:14+5:14Gr.as5:14foam chased to thinness:5:14or,as5:14thin foam chased.5:14+Most5:14Greek authorities readhoar5:14frost:some5:14authorities, perhaps rightly,a5:14spider’s web.5:17+5:17Or,to5:17repel his enemies6:2+6:2Or,in6:2the multitudes of your nations6:4+6:4Or,the6:4law6:6+6:6Gr.put6:6to the test.6:8+6:8Gr.6:8strong.6:9+6:9Gr.fall6:9not aside.6:10+6:10Or,accounted6:10holy6:11+6:11Gr.6:11disciplined.6:17+6:17Or,her6:17beginning is the true desire6:17+6:17Gr.6:17truest.6:19+6:19Gr.makes6:19to be near.6:22+6:22Or,from6:22her first beginning6:23+6:23Gr.6:23wasted.6:23+6:23Gr.6:23this7:1+Many7:1authorities reada7:1mortal man.7:3+7:3Gr.of7:3like qualities.7:4+7:4Gr.7:4in.7:12+Some7:12authorities readfirst7:12origin.7:14+7:14Gr.prepare7:14for themselves.7:14+7:14Gr.for7:14the sake of the presents that come of discipline.7:15+7:15Or,according7:15to7:15his7:15mind7:15Or,according7:15to7:15my7:15mind7:15+Some7:15authorities readis7:15said.7:19+7:19Or,7:19constellations7:20+7:20Or,7:20spirits7:22+7:22Gr.7:22Sole-born.7:25+7:25Gr.7:25vapor.7:29+7:29Gr.every7:29arrangement of stars.7:30+7:30Gr.to7:30this.8:1+8:1Or,reaches8:1from end onward to end mightily8:1+8:1Or,to8:1good use8:4+Some8:4authorities read8:4devisethfor8:4him.8:6+The8:6Greek text of this clause is perhaps corrupt.8:6+8:6Gr.8:6she.8:7+8:7Gr.Her8:7labors are.8:8+Some8:8authorities readhow8:8to divine the things of old and the things to come.8:8+8:8Gr.8:8conjectures.8:9+8:9Or,hold8:9counsel with me for good things, and...against cares and grief8:9+8:9Or,8:9exhort8:9Or,8:9advise8:11+8:11Or,mighty8:11men8:15+8:15Gr.8:15multitude.8:18+8:18Gr.practice8:18of communion.8:19+8:19Or,a8:19goodly child8:21+This8:21is the probable sense: the Greek text is perhaps defective.8:21+8:21Gr.of8:21whom is the grace.9:1+9:1Gr.Lord9:1of your mercy.Compare9:12 Samuel 7:15; Psalm 89:49.9:1+9:1Gr.9:1in.9:4+9:4Gr.9:4thrones.9:4+9:4Or,9:4children9:8+9:8Or,a9:8place of sacrifice9:8+9:8Gr.9:8tabernacling.9:9+9:9Gr.9:9in.9:12+9:12Gr.9:12thrones.9:14+The9:14Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.9:15+9:15Or,muses9:15upon many things9:16+9:16Gr.9:16conjecture.9:17+9:17Or,had9:17given...and sent9:17+9:17Gr.from9:17the highest.10:1+10:1Gr.10:1She.10:5+10:5Gr.10:5She10:6+10:6Gr.10:6she10:6+That10:6is,the10:6region of the five cities.10:7+10:7Or,10:7distrustful10:8+10:8Or,by10:8their life10:8+10:8Gr.10:8wherein.10:8+10:8Gr.10:8stumbled.10:10+10:10Gr.10:10she.10:12+10:12Gr.every10:12one.10:13+10:13Gr.10:13she.10:13+10:13Or,from10:13the sinof10:13his brethren...into10:13a pit10:15+10:15Gr.10:15she.11:3+11:3Or,took11:3vengeance on foes11:4+11:4Or,the11:4steep rock11:4+See11:4Deuteronomy 8:15; Psalm 114:8.11:6+The11:6text of this verse is perhaps corrupt.11:8+11:8Gr.the11:8then thirst.11:13+Some11:13authorities readwere11:13being.11:14+Some11:14authorities readcast11:14forth in hatred they.11:14+11:14Or,they11:14marveledat11:14him11:18+Some11:18authorities readunknown11:18wild beasts, full of new-created rage.11:19+11:19Gr.11:19harmfulness.11:22+11:22Gr.that11:22which just turns.11:22+11:22Gr.11:22from.11:26+11:26Or,11:26souls12:2+12:2Gr.fall12:2aside.12:5+The12:5words rendered12:5slaughters12:5and12:5impiousin12:5verses 5 and 6 differ but slightly from the readings of the Greek text, which here yield no sense.12:7+12:7Or,12:7children12:8+12:8Or,12:8wasps12:17+The12:17Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.12:17+12:17Or,in12:17them12:20+12:20Or,12:20children12:24+12:24Or,even12:24beyond12:24+12:24Gr.living12:24creatures:and12:24so elsewhere in this book.12:26+12:26Or,by12:26a correction, which was as children’s play12:26Gr.by12:26child-play of correction.12:27+12:27Or,denied12:27that they knew13:1+Or,13:1are13:2+13:2Gr.circle13:2of stars.13:2+13:2Or,luminaries13:2of heaven, rulers of the world, they thought to be gods13:4+13:4Gr.13:4efficacy.13:5+Some13:5authorities readgreatness13:5and beauty of.13:5+Some13:5authorities omit13:5even.13:5+13:5Or,13:5Correspondently13:5+13:5Gr.is13:5the first maker of them seen.13:6+13:6Or,13:6things13:7+13:7Or,being13:7occupied with13:7+13:7Or,trust13:7their sight that the things13:9+13:9Or,13:9life13:9Or,the13:9world13:9Gr.the13:9age.13:10+Or,13:10are13:10+13:10Or,13:10among13:10+Or,13:10are13:11+13:11Gr.carpenter13:11who is a woodcutter.13:11+13:11Gr.13:11plant.The13:11Greek word, slightly changed, would mean13:11trunk13:13+13:13Or,13:13leisure13:13+Or,13:13And13:14+13:14Gr.13:14rouge.13:19+13:19Or,13:19handywork14:5+14:5Gr.14:5by.14:6+The14:6Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.14:6+14:6Or,future14:6time14:6Gr.14:6age.14:7+14:7Or,14:7is14:11+14:11Or,14:11upon14:11Gr.14:11in.14:21+14:21Gr.an14:21ambush.14:22+14:22Or,14:22for14:22+14:22Gr.a14:22great war of ignorance.14:24+14:24Or,keep14:24unstained either life or marriage14:26+14:26Or,troubling14:26of the good, forgetfulness of favours14:26+14:26Or,14:26kind14:27+14:27Or,idols14:27that may not be namedSee14:27Exodus 23:13; Psalm 16:4; Hosea 2:17.14:27+See14:27Wisdom of Solomon 14:2114:31+14:31Gr.the14:31Justice of them that sin.