Wisdom:15

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* But thou , O God , art gracious and true , longsuffering , and in mercy ordering all things , * For if we sin , we are thine , knowing thy power : but we will not sin , knowing that we are counted thine . * For to know thee is perfect righteousness : yea , to know thy power is the root of immortality . * For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us , nor an image spotted with divers colours , the painter 's fruitless labour ; * The sight whereof enticeth fools to lust after it , and so they desire the form of a dead image , that hath no breath . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * His heart is ashes , his hope is more vile than earth , and his life of less value than clay : * Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker , and him that inspired into him an active soul , and breathed in a living spirit . * 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 . * For this man , that of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels and graven images , knoweth himself to offend above all others . * And all the enemies of thy people , that hold them in subjection , are most foolish , and are more miserable than very babes . * 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 . * For man made them , and he that borrowed his own spirit fashioned them : but no man can make a god like unto himself . * 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 never . * Yea , they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful : for being compared together , some are worse than others . * Neither are they beautiful , so much as to be desired in respect of beasts : but they went without the praise of God and his blessing .

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