The Wisdom of Solomon
Chapter 15
1. Yet God You are kind and pure
patient and merciful
and in control of all things.
2. We are Yours even if we sin
because we know Your power
yet we are not wicked
because we know we are Yours.
3. For to know You
is the perfection of righteousness
to know Your power
is the root of immortality.
4. The deception of humanity
deceived us not
just as a colorful painting
illustrates a painter's tireless effort.
5. Such sights temp fools
who lust for them
desiring the form of a dead image
which has no breath.
6. Those who make them
and those who desire them
and those who worship them
are all lovers of wickedness
and thus are worthy
to trust of such things.
7. Now the potter
molds the softened earth
to fashion every cup
with their hard work
and yet the same clay
can be used also for
cleaning containers
and things for service
but regardless of the product
the potter makes the decision.
8. Employing talents without shame
making a vanity god the same day
though it was earth just before
and just after will return to the same
just as their body that was lent
will be demanded back.
9. Yet their major care is not
how much work they have to do
or that is life is so short
but strives to better the work
of goldsmiths and silversmiths
as they seek to work in brass
while being proud of themselves
for making counterfeit things.
10. Their hearts become ashes
and their hope more vile than dirt
as their life has less value than mud.
11. Because they didn’t know their Creator
Who breathed life into them
and inspired an active soul.
12. Yet they figured their life a pastime
and our time here a market for gain
for they say we must grab everything
even if it be by wicked means.
13. For the materialistic person
who makes breakable vessels
and images that are dead
knowingly offends all others.
14. The oppressors of Your people
who keep them in bondage
are the most foolish
and more miserable than newborns.
15. Because they assumed idols
of the deluded were gods
though they have no eyes to see
nor noses to draw breath
nor ears to hear
nor fingers to handle
with feet not meant to travel.
16. Because humans made them
carved with borrowed spirit
unable to make a god in their likeness.
17. Because they are mortal
they made something dead
with wicked hands
but they themselves are better
than those things they worship
for they only live for a time
but what they made never lives.
18. Yes they worshiped beasts
that are certainly also hateful
and as they are compared
some are worse than others.
19. Nor are they beautiful
which is typical of beasts
acting without God’s blessings.
