1 Again another thinking to sail, and beginning to make a journey through the fierce waves, invocateth wood more frail than the wood that carrieth him.
1 Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more frail than the wood that carrieth him.
2 For covetousness of getting invented it, and the craftsman by his wisdom framed it.
2 For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by his skill.
3 But thy providence, o Father, doth govern: because thou hast given a way even in the sea, and among the waves a most sure path,
3 But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: ¹for thou hast made a way even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves,
4 shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea if a man go to the sea without art.
4 Showing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea, though a man went to sea without art.
5 But that thy works might not be void of wisdom: for this cause also men commit their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea are delivered by ship.
5 But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men also trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea by ship, are saved.
6 But from the beginning also when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world flying to a ship, rendered to the world seed of nativity, which was governed by thy hand.
6 ²And from the beginning also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand, left to the world seed of generation.
7 For blessed is the wood, by the which justice is made.
7 For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh.
8 But the idol that is made by hands, cursed is both it, and he that made it: because he indeed wrought it: and the same being frail, was called God.
8 ³But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is called a god.
9 But to God the impious and his impiety are odious alike.
9 But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.
10 For that which is made, with him that made it, shall suffer torments.
10 For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall suffer torments.
11 For this cause also in the idol of the nations there shall be no respect: because the creatures of God were made to hatred, and for tentation to the souls of men, and for a snare to the feet of the unwise.
11 Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the Gentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination, and a temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.
12 For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and the inventing of them is the corruption of life.
12 For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and the invention of them is the corruption of life.
13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be forever.
14 For this vanity of men came into the world: and therefore there is found a short end of them.
14 For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore they shall be found to come shortly to an end.
15 For the father being sorrowful with bitter mourning, made unto himself the image of his son quickly taken away: and him, that then was a dead man, now he began to worship as God, and appointed holy things and sacrifices among his servants.
15 For a father being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself the image of his son, who was quickly taken away: and him who then had died as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him rites and sacrifices among his servants.
16 Afterward by succession of time, the wicked custom prevailing, this error was kept as a law, and things graven were worshipped by the commandment of Tyrants.
16 Then, in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of tyrants.
17 And those, whom openly men could not honour, for that they were far off, their figure being brought from a far, they made an evident image of the king, whom they would honour: that by their carefulness they might honour as present, him that was absent.
17 And those whom men could not honor in presence, because they dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an express image of the king, whom they had a mind to honor: that by this their diligence, they might honor as present, him that was absent.
18 And to the worshipping of these, the excellent diligence also of the artificer, holp them forward, that were ignorant.
18 And to the worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.
19 For he willing to please him that entertained him, laboured by his art to fashion the similitude in better sort.
19 For he being willing to please him that employed him, labored with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner.
20 And the multitude of men carried away by the beauty of the work, him that a little before had been honoured as a man, now they esteemed for a God.
20 And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the work, took him now for a god, that a little before was but honored as a man.
21 And this was the deceiving of man's life: because men serving either affection, or kings, gave the name that is not communicable, to stones and wood.
21 And this was the occasion of deceiving human life: for men serving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable name to stones and wood.
22 And it was not sufficient that they erred about the knowledge of God, but also living in a great battle of ignorance, so many and so great evils they call peace.
22 And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so many and so great evils peace.
23 For either sacrificing their children, or making obscure sacrifices, or having watches full of madness,
23 ⁴For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,
24 they now neither keep life, nor marriage clean, but one killeth another by envy, or playing the adulterer maketh him sorrowful:
24 So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:
25 and all things are mingled together, blood, manslaughter, theft and fiction, corruption and infidelity, trouble and perjury, disquieting of the good,
25 And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, disquieting of the good,
26 forgetfulness of God, inquination of souls, immutation of nativity, inconstancy of marriage, disorder of adultery, and unchasteness.
26 Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness.
27 For the worship of idols not to be named, is the cause of all evil, and the beginning and end.
27 For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the beginning and end of all evil.
28 For either when they rejoice, they are mad: or certes prophesy false things, or live unjustly, or quickly forswear themselves.
28 For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.
29 For whilst they trust in idols, which are without soul, swearing amiss they hope not to be hurt.
29 For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.
30 Two evil things therefore shall happen to them worthily, because they have thought evil of God, attending to idols, and have sworn unjustly, in guile contemning justice.
30 But for both these things they shall be justly punished, because they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn unjustly, in guile despising justice.
31 For it is not the power of them that are sworn by, but the punishment of them that sin goeth always through the transgression of the unjust.
31 For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the just vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the unjust.