Wisdom of Solomon 13

1 All people who are ignorant of God are empty by nature. From the good things they could see, they were unable to know the one who exists, and by studying his works they failed to recognize the craftsman. 2 Instead they regarded fire, wind, swift air, the circle of stars, rushing water, or heaven’s lights as gods that rule the world. 3 If delight in their beauty led them to suppose these things were gods, they should know how much greater their Master is, because the one who first formed beauty created them. 4 If their power and activity astonished them, they should understand through these things how much more powerful their Maker is. 5 From the greatness and beauty of created things, their Maker is seen by analogy.

6 Yet these people deserve less blame, because perhaps they wander while seeking God and desiring to find him. 7 They live among his works, search diligently, and trust what they see because the visible things are beautiful. 8 Even so, they are not to be excused. 9 If they were capable of enough knowledge to investigate the world, why did they not find its Master sooner?

10 But miserable are those whose hope rests in dead things. They call the works of human hands gods: gold and silver fashioned with skill, likenesses of animals, or a worthless stone carved by an ancient hand. 11 A woodworker cuts down a suitable tree, skillfully strips away all its bark, works it carefully, and makes from it a vessel useful for daily life. 12 He burns the scraps from his work to prepare his food and eats his fill. 13 Then he takes a useless leftover, a crooked piece of wood full of knots, carves it diligently in his leisure, shapes it by his skill, and forms it into the image of a human being. 14 Or he makes it resemble some worthless animal, covers it with red paint, colors its surface, and conceals every blemish. 15 He prepares a dwelling fit for it, sets it on a wall, and fastens it with iron. 16 He takes care that it does not fall because he knows it cannot help itself. It is only an image and needs help.

17 Then he prays to it about his possessions, marriage, and children. He is not ashamed to speak to something lifeless, and he calls on this weak object for health. 18 He asks a dead thing for life, begs something with no experience to come to his aid, and asks something unable even to take a step to guide his journey. 19 For profit, work, and success with his hands, he asks for strength from something whose hands are utterly powerless.