nd 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.

14:18. And to the worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of
the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.

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.

14:20. And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the work,
took him now for a god, that little before was but honoured as a man.

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.

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.

14:23. For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden
sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,

14:24. So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but
one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:

14:25. And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and
dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury,
disquieting of the good,

14:26. Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature,
disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness.

14:27. For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the
beginning and end of all evil.

14:28. For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy
lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.

14:29. For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though
they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.

14:30. But for both these 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.

14:31. For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the just
vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the unjust.

Wisdom Chapter 15

The servants of God praise him who hath delivered them from idolatry;
condemning both the makers and the worshippers of idols.

15:1. But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering
a