and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
[15] For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices.
[16] Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings.
[17] Whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.
[18] Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
[19] For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
[20] And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honoured.
[21] And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and stocks the incommunicable name.
[22] Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.
[23] For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;
[24] They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.
[25] So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
[26] Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
[27] For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
[28] For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.
[29] For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.
[30] Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.
[31] For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.

Wis.15

[1] But thou, O God, art gracious and true, longsuffering, and in mercy ordering all things,
[2] For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power: but we will not sin, knowing that we are counted thine.
[3] For to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy power is the root of immortality.
[4] For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us, nor an image spotted with divers colours, the painter's fruitless labour;
[5] The sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it, and so they desire the form of a dead image, that hath no breath.
[6] Both they that make them, they that desire them, and they that worship them, are lovers of evil things, and are worthy to have such things to trust upon.
[7] For the potter, tempering soft earth, fashioneth every vessel with much labour for our service: yea, of the same clay he maketh both the vessels that serve for clean uses, and likewise also all such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of either sort, the potter himself is the judge.
[8] And employing his labours lewdly, he maketh a vain god of the same clay, even he which a little before was made of earth himself, and within a little while after returneth to the same, out when his life which was lent him shall be demanded.
[9] Notwithstanding his care is, not that he shall have much labour, nor that his life is short: but striveth to excel goldsmiths and silversmiths, and endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it his glory to make counterfeit things.
[10] His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his life of less value than clay:
[11] Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul, and breathed in a living spirit.
[12] But they counted our life a pastime, and our time here a market for gain: for, say they, we must be getting every way, though it be by evil means.
[13] For this man, that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others.
[14] And all the enemies of thy people, that hold them in subjection, are most foolish, and are more miserable than very babes.
[15] For they counted all the idols of the heathen to be gods: which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle; and as for their feet, they are slow to go.
[16] For man made them, and he that borrowed his own spirit fashioned them: but no man can make a god like unto himself.
[17] For being mortal, he worketh a dead thing with wicked hands: for he himself is better than the things which he worshippeth: whereas he lived once, but they