Open English Translation WIS Chapter 14

12 Because the devising of idols was the beginning of fornication,

and the invention of them the corruption of life.

13 Because they didn’t exist from the beginning, and they won’t exist forever.

14 Because by the boastfulness of men they entered into the world,

and therefore a speedy end was planned for them.

15 Because a father worn with untimely grief,

making an image of the child quickly taken away,

now honoured him as a god which was then a dead human being,

and delivered to those that were under him mysteries and solemn rites.

16 Afterward the ungodly custom, in process of time grown strong, was kept as a law,

and the engraved images received worship by the commandments of princes.

17 And when men couldn’t honour them in presence because they lived far off,

imagining the likeness from afar,

they made a visible image of the king whom they honoured,

that by their zeal they might flatter the absent as if present.

18 But worship was raised to a yet higher pitch, even by those who didn’t know him,

urged forward by the ambition of the architect;

19 for he, wishing perhaps to please his ruler,

used his art to force the likeness towards a greater beauty.

20 So the multitude, allured because of the grace of his handiwork,

now consider an object of devotion him that a little before was honoured as a man.

21 And this became an ambush,

because men, in bondage either to calamity or to tyranny,

invested stones and stocks with the Name that shouldn’t be shared.

22 Afterward it wasn’t enough for them to go astray about the knowledge of God,

but also, while they live in a great war of ignorance, they call a multitude of evils peace.

23 Because either slaughtering children in solemn rites, or celebrating secret mysteries,

or holding frenzied revels of strange customs,

24 no longer do they guard either life or purity of marriage,

but one brings on another either death by treachery, or anguish by adultery.

25 And all things confusedly are filled with blood and murder, theft and deceit,

corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury,

26 confusion about what’s good, forgetfulness of favours,

ingratitude for benefits,

defiling of souls, confusion of sex,

disorder in marriage, adultery and wantonness.

27 Because the worship of idols that may not be named[ref]

is a beginning and cause and end of every evil.

28 Because their worshippers either make merry to madness, or prophesy lies,

or live unrighteously, or lightly commit perjury.

29 Because putting their trust in lifeless idols,

when they’ve sworn a wicked oath, they expect not to suffer harm.

30 But on both counts, the just doom will pursue them,

because they had evil thoughts of God by giving heed to idols,

and swore unrighteously in deceit through contempt for holiness.

31 Because it isn’t the power of things by which men swear,

but it’s the just penalty for those who sin

that always visits the transgression of the unrighteous.