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 never.
18 Yea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful: for being compared together, some are worse than others.
19 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.
Versículos relacionados com Wisdom of Solomon, 15:
Chapter 15 of the Book of Wisdom describes the vanity of idols and the superiority of the true and alive God. The central message is that idols are lifeless creatures that do not have the power to act, think or respond to their worshipers. In contrast, the living God is the Creator of all things and is worthy of worship and praise. Below are five verses related to the topics covered in this chapter:
Isaiah 44:10: "How foolish is he who makes a God, an idol for his own damage!" This verse highlights the foolishness of worshiping idols, which are made by human hands and are unable to save or help their worshipers.
Psalm 115:4-8: "Their idols are silver and gold, work from the hands of men. They have mouth, but they do not speak; eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear; nose, but do not smell; but they don't feel; they have feet, but they don't walk; no sound comes out of their throat. " This psalm describes the uselessness of idols and their inability to act, think or speak.
Isaiah 40:18-19: "Who shall you compare to God, and what likeness will you be before Him? These verses highlight God's superiority in relation to idols and claim that there is no one or anything that can be compared to Him.
Jeremiah 10:5: "As these idols are a rod of reed, work of an artificer, they cannot speak; they must be taken, because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, because they cannot do evil or do good . " This verse states that idols are useless and without power, and that there is no reason to fear them.
Isaiah 45:20: "Congregate, come, come, come together, those who escape the nations, know nothing who lead their sculpture images, made of wood, and pray to a God who cannot save. " This verse highlights the foolishness of worshiping idols and states that those who worship them have no knowledge of God.
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