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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.
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But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them understand by them, how much
mightier he is that made them.
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For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures proportionably the maker of them is seen.
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But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they peradventure err, seeking God, and
desirous to find him.
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For being conversant in his works they search him diligently, and believe their sight: because
the things are beautiful that are seen.
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Howbeit neither are they to be pardoned.
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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?
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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.
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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;
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And after spending the refuse of his work to dress his meat, hath filled himself;
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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;
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Or made it like some vile beast, laying it over with vermilion, and with paint colouring it red,
and covering every spot therein;
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And when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in a wall, and made it fast with iron:
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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:
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Then maketh he prayer for his goods, for his wife and children, and is not ashamed to speak
to that which hath no life.
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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:
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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.
WISDOM OF SOLOMON 14
1115
KJV Bible