Wis 13:1 

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; 

Wis 13:2 

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. 

Wis 13:3 

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. 

Wis 13:4 

But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let 

them understand by them, how much mightier he is that made them. 

Wis 13:5 

For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures 

proportionably the maker of them is seen. 

Wis 13:6 

But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they 

peradventure err, seeking God, and desirous to find him. 

Wis 13:7 

For being conversant in his works they search him diligently, 

and believe their sight: because the things are beautiful that 

are seen. 

Wis 13:8 

Howbeit neither are they to be pardoned. 

Wis 13:9 

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? 

Wis 13:10 

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. 

Wis 13:11 

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; 

Wis 13:12 

And after spending the refuse of his work to dress his meat, 

hath filled himself; 

Wis 13:13 

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; 

Wis 13:14 

Or made it like some vile beast, laying it over with 

vermilion, and with paint colouring it red, and covering every 

spot therein; 

Wis 13:15 

And when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in a 

wall, and made it fast with iron: 

Wis 13:16 

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: 

Wis 13:17 

Then maketh he prayer for his goods, for his wife and 

children, and is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no 

life. 

Wis 13:18 

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: 

Wis 13:19 

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.