1 But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the workman:
2 But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world.
3 With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they: for the first author of beauty made all those things.
4 Or if they admired their power and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:
5 For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.
6 But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.
7 For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen.
8 But then again they are not to be pardoned.
9 For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?
10 But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have called gods the works of the hands of men, gold and silver, the inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable stone the work of an ancient hand.
11 Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common uses of life,
12 And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat:
13 And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth it and maketh it like the image of a man:
14 Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermillion, and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:
15 And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron,
16 Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help.
17 And then maketh prayer to it, inquiring concerning his substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life:
18 And for health he maketh suspplication to the weak, and for life prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is unprofitable:
19 And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh him that is unable to do any thing.
Versículos relacionados com Wisdom of Solomon, 13:
Chapter 13 of the Wisdom Book addresses the foolishness of idolatry and how it opposes worship of the true God. The author points out that nature is a clear evidence of the existence of a Creator and that those who turn to idols are making a serious mistake. Below are five verses related to the topics addressed in Wisdom 13:
Exodus 20:3 - "You will not have other gods before me." This is the first of the ten commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, which prohibits idolatry and emphasizes the exclusivity of worship to the Lord.
Isaiah 44:9 - "Those who model idols are all of them nothing, and their most beloved things take advantage of nothing. They witness themselves that they do not see or understand, so that they may be embarrassed." This verse condemns the practice of creating idols and highlights its uselessness.
Jeremiah 10:14 - "Every man is a fool, without knowledge; all goldsmith is embarrassed by his sculpture image, for his images of casting are falsehood, and in them there is no spirit." This verse emphasizes the foolishness of those who trust idols and regard them as gods.
Acts of the Apostles 17:24-25 - "The God who made the world and all in Him, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by human hands, nor is served by human hands, as if needed something , for he himself gives everyone life, his breath and all things. " This verse highlights the superiority of the true God in relation to the false gods created by men.
1 Corinthians 8:4 - "Thus, as for eating idols sacrificed to idols, we know that 'an idol is nothing in the world' and that 'there is no other God but one'." This verse emphasizes the importance of recognizing the futility of idols and worshiping only to the true God.
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