Chapter 13

¹ Surely vain are all men by nature, who are ignorant of God,

Wis 13:1

² But deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air,

Wis 13:2

³ With whose beauty if they being delighted took them to be gods;

Wis 13:3

⁴ But if they were astonished at their power and virtue,

Wis 13:4

⁵ For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures

Wis 13:5

⁶ But yet for this they are the less to be blamed:

Wis 13:6

⁷ For being conversant in his works they search [him] diligently,

Wis 13:7

⁸ Howbeit neither are they to be pardoned.

Wis 13:8

⁹ For if they were able to know so much,

Wis 13:9

¹⁰ But miserable are they, and in dead things is their hope,

Wis 13:10

¹¹ Now a carpenter that felleth timber, after he hath sawn down a tree meet for the purpose,

Wis 13:11

¹² And after spending the refuse of his work to dress his meat, hath filled himself;

Wis 13:12

¹³ And taking the very refuse among those which served to no use,

Wis 13:13

¹⁴ Or made it like some vile beast,

Wis 13:14

¹⁵ And when he had made a convenient room for it,

Wis 13:15

¹⁶ For he provided for it that it might not fall,

Wis 13:16

¹⁷ Then maketh he prayer for his goods, for his wife and children,

Wis 13:17

¹⁸ For health he calleth upon that which is weak:

Wis 13:18

¹⁹ And for gaining and getting, and for good success of his hands,

Wis 13:19