Wisdom of Solomon 13:7–19

7 For as they live among his works they keep searching,

and they trust in what they see, because the things that are seen are beautiful.

8 Yet again, not even they are to be excused;

9 for if they had the power to know so much

that they could investigate the world,

how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things?

10 But miserable, with their hopes set on dead things, are the men

who give the name “gods” to the works of men’s hands,

gold and silver fashioned with skill,

and likenesses of animals,

or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.

11 A skilled woodcutter may saw down a tree easy to handle

and skilfully strip off all its bark,

and then with pleasing workmanship

make a useful vessel that serves life’s needs,

12 and burn the castoff pieces of his work

to prepare his food, and eat his fill.

13 But a castoff piece from among them, useful for nothing,

a stick crooked and full of knots,

he takes and carves with care in his leisure,

and shapes it with skill gained in idleness;

he forms it like the image of a man,

14 or makes it like some worthless animal,

giving it a coat of red paint and coloring its surface red

and covering every blemish in it with paint;

15 then he makes for it a niche that befits it,

and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there with iron.

16 So he takes thought for it, that it may not fall,

because he knows that it cannot help itself,

for it is only an image and has need of help.

17 When he prays about possessions and his marriage and children,

he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing.

18 For health he appeals to a thing that is weak;

for life he prays to a thing that is dead;

for aid he entreats a thing that is utterly inexperienced;

for a prosperous journey, a thing that cannot take a step;

19 for money-making and work and success with his hands

he asks strength of a thing whose hands have no strength.