The Book of Wisdom or The Wisdom of Solomon 13

1For verily all men by nature Or, are were but vain who had no perception of God, 2But either fire, or wind, or swift air, circling stars, or raging water, or Gr. circle of stars. luminaries of heaven, Or, luminaries of heaven, rulers of the world, they thought to be gods 3And if it was through delight in their beauty that they took them to be gods, 4But if it was through astonishment at their power and influence, Gr. efficacy. 5For from the greatness of the beauty Some authorities read greatness and beauty of. even of created things Some authorities omit even. In like proportion Or, Correspondently does man form the image of their first maker. Gr. is the first maker of them seen. 6But yet for these men there is but small blame, Or, things but go astray 7For living among his works they make diligent search, Or, being occupied with yield themselves up to sight, because the things that they look upon are beautiful. Or, trust their sight that the things 8But again even they are not to be excused. 9For if they had power to know so much, the course Or, life Or, the world Gr. the age. of things, his works? 10But miserable Or, are were they, and in dead things Or, among Or, are were their hopes, 11Yes and if some woodcutter, having sawn down a Gr. carpenter who is a woodcutter. tree that is easily moved, Gr. plant. The Greek word, slightly changed, would mean trunk 12And burning the refuse of his handywork to dress his food, eats his fill; 13And taking the very refuse thereof which served to no use, indolence; Or, leisure Or, And Then he gives it the semblance of the image of a man, 14Or makes it like some paltry animal, paint colouring it red, Gr. rouge. 15And having made for it a chamber worthy of it, 16While then he takes thought for it that it may not fall down, 17When he makes his prayer concerning goods and his marriage and children, 18Yes for health he calls upon that which is weak, good journey that which can’t so much as move a step, 19And for gaining and getting and good success of his hands Or, handywork