Wisdom 13
People who do not know God often mistakenly worship natural phenomena or man-made objects, failing to recognize the true creator of these things. They are drawn to the beauty and power of creation, but do not acknowledge the one who made it. Those who worship idols, such as statues of men or animals, are foolish, as they pray to inanimate objects that cannot help them, and they are unaware of the true God who is the author of all beauty and power.
1But all men are vain, who are not under the knowledge of God, and who, from these good things that are seen, were not able to understand he who is, nor, by paying attention to the works, did they acknowledge he who was the artisan2Instead, they had considered either the fire, or the air, or the atmosphere, or the circle of stars, or the great sea, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world3If they, being delighted by such sights, supposed them to be gods, let them know how great the Lord of them is in splendor. For he who created all things is the author of beauty4Or, if they wondered at their power and their effects, let them understand by these things, that he who created them is mightier than they are5For, by the greatness of the creation and its beauty, the creator of these will be able to be seen discernibly6Yet, up to this point, the complaint about this is lesser. For perhaps they made a mistake in this, while desiring and seeking to find God7And, indeed, having some familiarity with him through his works, they search, and they are persuaded, because the things that they are seeing are good8But, then again, neither can their debt be ignored9For, if they were able to know enough so that they could value the universe, how is it they did not easily discover the Lord of it10Yet they are unhappy, and their hope is among the dead, for they have called ‘gods’ the works of the hands of men, gold and silver, the inventions of skill, and the likeness of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand11Or, it is as if a craftsman, a workman of the forest, had cut straight wood, and, with his expertise, shaved off all of its bark, and, with his skill, diligently fashioned a vessel, practical for use in life12and even the remains of his work were exhausted in the preparation of food13and, from the remainder of this, which has become useful for nothing, a curved piece of wood and full of knots, he diligently carves it in his spare time, and, through the knowledge of his art, forms it and makes it in the image of a man14or something comparable to an animal, thoroughly rubbing it with red ochre, to make it red with the color of the pigment, and to cover every imperfection which is in it15and it is as if he made a fitting resting place for it, even setting it in a wall and fastening it with iron16providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself, for it is an image and it is in need of help17And then, making an offering, he inquires about his wealth, and about his sons, and about marriage. And he is not ashamed to talk to that which has no soul18And for health, indeed, something unhealthy is being prayed to, and for life, he petitions what is dead, and for help, he calls upon something helpless19and for a good journey, he entreats that which is unable to walk, and for acquiring, and for working, and for success in all things, he entreats that which is useless in all things
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