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WEBC: World English Bible, Catholic Edition

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Patriarchs
Egypt and Exodus
Desert Wanderings
Conquest and Judges
Royal Kingdom
Divided Kingdom
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Royal Kingdom
Divided Kingdom
Exile
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Maccabean Revolt
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Exile
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Day 208 of 365

about 16 minutes

Wisdom 12-15

Wisdom Chapter 12

¹For your incorruptible spirit is in all things. ²Therefore you convict little by little those who fall from the right way, and, putting them in remembrance by the things wherein they sin, you admonish them, that escaping from their wickedness they may believe in you, O Lord. ³For truly the old inhabitants of your holy land, ⁴hating them because they practiced detestable works of enchantments and unholy rites— ⁵merciless slaughters of children and sacrificial banquets of men’s flesh and of blood— ⁶allies in an impious fellowship, and murderers of their own helpless babes, it was your counsel to destroy by the hands of our fathers; ⁷that the land which in your sight is most precious of all might receive a worthy colony of God’s servants. ⁸Nevertheless you even spared these as men, and you sent hornets as forerunners of your army, to cause them to perish little by little. ⁹Not that you were unable to subdue the ungodly under the hand of the righteous in battle, or by terrible beasts or by a stern word to make away with them at once, ¹⁰but judging them little by little you gave them a chance to repent, not being ignorant that their nature by birth was evil, their wickedness inborn, and that their manner of thought would never be changed. ¹¹For they were a cursed seed from the beginning. It wasn’t through fear of any that you left them unpunished for their sins. ¹²For who will say, “What have you done?” Or “Who will withstand your judgment?” Who will accuse you for the perishing of nations which you caused? Or who will come and stand before you as an avenger for unrighteous men? ¹³For there isn’t any God beside you that cares for all, that you might show that you didn’t judge unrighteously. ¹⁴No king or prince will be able to confront you about those whom you have punished. ¹⁵But being righteous, you rule all things righteously, deeming it a thing alien from your power to condemn one who doesn’t deserve to be punished. ¹⁶For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all makes you to forbear all. ¹⁷For when men don’t believe that you are perfect in power, you show your strength, and in dealing with those who think this, you confuse their boldness. ¹⁸But you, being sovereign in strength, judge in gentleness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for the power is yours whenever you desire it. ¹⁹But you taught your people by such works as these, how the righteous must be kind. You made your sons to have good hope, because you give repentance when men have sinned. ²⁰For if on those who were enemies of your servants and deserving of death, you took vengeance with so great deliberation and indulgence, giving them times and opportunities when they might escape from their wickedness, ²¹with how great care you judged your sons, to whose fathers you gave oaths and covenants of good promises! ²²Therefore while you chasten us, you scourge our enemies ten thousand times more, to the intent that we may ponder your goodness when we judge, and when we are judged may look for mercy. ²³Therefore also the unrighteous that lived in a life of folly, you tormented through their own abominations. ²⁴For truly they went astray very far in the ways of error, Taking as gods those animals which even among their enemies were held in dishonor, deceived like foolish babes. ²⁵Therefore, as to unreasoning children, you sent your judgment to mock them. ²⁶But those who would not be admonished by mild correction will experience the deserved judgment of God. ²⁷For through the sufferings they were indignant of, being punished in these creatures which they supposed to be gods, they saw and recognized as the true God him whom they previously refused to know. Therefore also the result of extreme condemnation came upon them.

1: For your incorruptible spirit is in all things.

2: Therefore you convict little by little those who fall from the right way, and, putting them in remembrance by the things wherein they sin, you admonish them, that escaping from their wickedness they may believe in you, O Lord.

3: For truly the old inhabitants of your holy land,

4: hating them because they practiced detestable works of enchantments and unholy rites—

5: merciless slaughters of children and sacrificial banquets of men’s flesh and of blood—

6: allies in an impious fellowship, and murderers of their own helpless babes, it was your counsel to destroy by the hands of our fathers;

7: that the land which in your sight is most precious of all might receive a worthy colony of God’s servants.

8: Nevertheless you even spared these as men, and you sent hornets as forerunners of your army, to cause them to perish little by little.

9: Not that you were unable to subdue the ungodly under the hand of the righteous in battle, or by terrible beasts or by a stern word to make away with them at once,

10: but judging them little by little you gave them a chance to repent, not being ignorant that their nature by birth was evil, their wickedness inborn, and that their manner of thought would never be changed.

11: For they were a cursed seed from the beginning. It wasn’t through fear of any that you left them unpunished for their sins.

12: For who will say, “What have you done?” Or “Who will withstand your judgment?” Who will accuse you for the perishing of nations which you caused? Or who will come and stand before you as an avenger for unrighteous men?

13: For there isn’t any God beside you that cares for all, that you might show that you didn’t judge unrighteously.

14: No king or prince will be able to confront you about those whom you have punished.

15: But being righteous, you rule all things righteously, deeming it a thing alien from your power to condemn one who doesn’t deserve to be punished.

16: For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all makes you to forbear all.

17: For when men don’t believe that you are perfect in power, you show your strength, and in dealing with those who think this, you confuse their boldness.

18: But you, being sovereign in strength, judge in gentleness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for the power is yours whenever you desire it.

19: But you taught your people by such works as these, how the righteous must be kind. You made your sons to have good hope, because you give repentance when men have sinned.

20: For if on those who were enemies of your servants and deserving of death, you took vengeance with so great deliberation and indulgence, giving them times and opportunities when they might escape from their wickedness,

21: with how great care you judged your sons, to whose fathers you gave oaths and covenants of good promises!

22: Therefore while you chasten us, you scourge our enemies ten thousand times more, to the intent that we may ponder your goodness when we judge, and when we are judged may look for mercy.

23: Therefore also the unrighteous that lived in a life of folly, you tormented through their own abominations.

24: For truly they went astray very far in the ways of error, Taking as gods those animals which even among their enemies were held in dishonor, deceived like foolish babes.

25: Therefore, as to unreasoning children, you sent your judgment to mock them.

26: But those who would not be admonished by mild correction will experience the deserved judgment of God.

27: For through the sufferings they were indignant of, being punished in these creatures which they supposed to be gods, they saw and recognized as the true God him whom they previously refused to know. Therefore also the result of extreme condemnation came upon them.

Wisdom Chapter 13

¹For truly all men who had no perception of God were foolish by nature, and didn’t gain power to know him who exists from the good things that are seen. They didn’t recognize the architect from his works. ²But they thought that either fire, or wind, or swift air, or circling stars, or raging water, or luminaries of heaven were gods that rule the world. ³If it was through delight in their beauty that they took them to be gods, let them know how much better their Sovereign Lord is than these, for the first author of beauty created them. ⁴But if it was through astonishment at their power and influence, then let them understand from them how much more powerful he who formed them is. ⁵For from the greatness of the beauty of created things, mankind forms the corresponding perception of their Maker. ⁶But yet for these men there is but small blame, for they too perhaps go astray while they are seeking God and desiring to find him. ⁷For they diligently search while living among his works, and they trust their sight that the things that they look at are beautiful. ⁸But again even they are not to be excused. ⁹For if they had power to know so much, that they should be able to explore the world, how is it that they didn’t find the Sovereign Lord sooner? ¹⁰But they were miserable, and their hopes were in dead things, who called them gods which are works of men’s hands, gold and silver, skillfully made, and likenesses of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand. ¹¹Yes and some woodcutter might saw down a tree that is easily moved, skillfully strip away all its bark, and fashion it in attractive form, make a useful vessel to serve his life’s needs. ¹²Burning the scraps from his handiwork to cook his food, he eats his fill. ¹³Taking a discarded scrap which served no purpose, a crooked piece of wood and full of knots, he carves it with the diligence of his idleness, and shapes it by the skill of his idleness. He shapes it in the image of a man, ¹⁴or makes it like some worthless animal, smearing it with something red, painting it red, and smearing over every stain in it. ¹⁵Having made a worthy chamber for it, he sets it in a wall, securing it with iron. ¹⁶He plans for it that it may not fall down, knowing that it is unable to help itself (for truly it is an image, and needs help). ¹⁷When he makes his prayer concerning goods and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to speak to that which has no life. ¹⁸Yes, for health, he calls upon that which is weak. For life, he implores that which is dead. For aid, he supplicates that which has no experience. For a good journey, he asks that which can’t so much as move a step. ¹⁹And for profit in business and good success of his hands, he asks ability from that which has hands with no ability.

1: For truly all men who had no perception of God were foolish by nature, and didn’t gain power to know him who exists from the good things that are seen. They didn’t recognize the architect from his works.

2: But they thought that either fire, or wind, or swift air, or circling stars, or raging water, or luminaries of heaven were gods that rule the world.

3: If it was through delight in their beauty that they took them to be gods, let them know how much better their Sovereign Lord is than these, for the first author of beauty created them.

4: But if it was through astonishment at their power and influence, then let them understand from them how much more powerful he who formed them is.

5: For from the greatness of the beauty of created things, mankind forms the corresponding perception of their Maker.

6: But yet for these men there is but small blame, for they too perhaps go astray while they are seeking God and desiring to find him.

7: For they diligently search while living among his works, and they trust their sight that the things that they look at are beautiful.

8: But again even they are not to be excused.

9: For if they had power to know so much, that they should be able to explore the world, how is it that they didn’t find the Sovereign Lord sooner?

10: But they were miserable, and their hopes were in dead things, who called them gods which are works of men’s hands, gold and silver, skillfully made, and likenesses of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.

11: Yes and some woodcutter might saw down a tree that is easily moved, skillfully strip away all its bark, and fashion it in attractive form, make a useful vessel to serve his life’s needs.

12: Burning the scraps from his handiwork to cook his food, he eats his fill.

13: Taking a discarded scrap which served no purpose, a crooked piece of wood and full of knots, he carves it with the diligence of his idleness, and shapes it by the skill of his idleness. He shapes it in the image of a man,

14: or makes it like some worthless animal, smearing it with something red, painting it red, and smearing over every stain in it.

15: Having made a worthy chamber for it, he sets it in a wall, securing it with iron.

16: He plans for it that it may not fall down, knowing that it is unable to help itself (for truly it is an image, and needs help).

17: When he makes his prayer concerning goods and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to speak to that which has no life.

18: Yes, for health, he calls upon that which is weak. For life, he implores that which is dead. For aid, he supplicates that which has no experience. For a good journey, he asks that which can’t so much as move a step.

19: And for profit in business and good success of his hands, he asks ability from that which has hands with no ability.

Wisdom Chapter 14

¹Again, one preparing to sail, and about to journey over raging waves, calls upon a piece of wood more fragile than the vessel that carries him. ²For the hunger for profit planned it, and wisdom was the craftsman who built it. ³Your providence, O Father, guides it along, because even in the sea you gave a way, and in the waves a sure path, ⁴showing that you can save out of every danger, that even a man without skill may put to sea. ⁵It is your will that the works of your wisdom should not be ineffective. Therefore men also entrust their lives to a little piece of wood, and passing through the surge on a raft come safely to land. ⁶For in the old time also, when proud giants were perishing, the hope of the world, taking refuge on a raft, your hand guided the seed of generations of the race of men. ⁷For blessed is wood through which comes righteousness; ⁸but the idol made with hands is accursed, itself and he that made it; because his was the working, and the corruptible thing was called a god. ⁹For both the ungodly and his ungodliness are alike hateful to God; ¹⁰for truly the deed will be punished together with him who committed it. ¹¹Therefore also there will be a visitation among the idols of the nation, because, though formed of things which God created, they were made an abomination, stumbling blocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the foolish. ¹²For the devising of idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life. ¹³For they didn’t exist from the beginning, and they won’t exist forever. ¹⁴For by the boastfulness of men they entered into the world, and therefore a speedy end was planned for them. ¹⁵For a father worn with untimely grief, making an image of the child quickly taken away, now honored him as a god which was then a dead human being, and delivered to those that were under him mysteries and solemn rites. ¹⁶Afterward 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. ¹⁷And when men could not honor them in presence because they lived far off, imagining the likeness from afar, they made a visible image of the king whom they honored, that by their zeal they might flatter the absent as if present. ¹⁸But worship was raised to a yet higher pitch, even by those who didn’t know him, urged forward by the ambition of the architect; ¹⁹for he, wishing perhaps to please his ruler, used his art to force the likeness toward a greater beauty. ²⁰So the multitude, allured by reason of the grace of his handiwork, now consider an object of devotion him that a little before was honored as a man. ²¹And 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. ²²Afterward it was not enough for them to go astray concerning the knowledge of God, but also, while they live in a great war of ignorance, they call a multitude of evils peace. ²³For either slaughtering children in solemn rites, or celebrating secret mysteries, or holding frenzied revels of strange customs, ²⁴no longer do they guard either life or purity of marriage, but one brings upon another either death by treachery, or anguish by adultery. ²⁵And all things confusedly are filled with blood and murder, theft and deceit, corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury, ²⁶confusion about what is good, forgetfulness of favors, ingratitude for benefits, defiling of souls, confusion of sex, disorder in marriage, adultery and wantonness. ²⁷For the worship of idols that may not be named is a beginning and cause and end of every evil. ²⁸For their worshipers either make merry to madness, or prophesy lies, or live unrighteously, or lightly commit perjury. ²⁹For putting their trust in lifeless idols, when they have sworn a wicked oath, they expect not to suffer harm. ³⁰But 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. ³¹For it is not the power of things by which men swear, but it is the just penalty for those who sin that always visits the transgression of the unrighteous.

1: Again, one preparing to sail, and about to journey over raging waves, calls upon a piece of wood more fragile than the vessel that carries him.

2: For the hunger for profit planned it, and wisdom was the craftsman who built it.

3: Your providence, O Father, guides it along, because even in the sea you gave a way, and in the waves a sure path,

4: showing that you can save out of every danger, that even a man without skill may put to sea.

5: It is your will that the works of your wisdom should not be ineffective. Therefore men also entrust their lives to a little piece of wood, and passing through the surge on a raft come safely to land.

6: For in the old time also, when proud giants were perishing, the hope of the world, taking refuge on a raft, your hand guided the seed of generations of the race of men.

7: For blessed is wood through which comes righteousness;

8: but the idol made with hands is accursed, itself and he that made it; because his was the working, and the corruptible thing was called a god.

9: For both the ungodly and his ungodliness are alike hateful to God;

10: for truly the deed will be punished together with him who committed it.

11: Therefore also there will be a visitation among the idols of the nation, because, though formed of things which God created, they were made an abomination, stumbling blocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the foolish.

12: For the devising of idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.

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

14: For by the boastfulness of men they entered into the world, and therefore a speedy end was planned for them.

15: For a father worn with untimely grief, making an image of the child quickly taken away, now honored 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 could not honor them in presence because they lived far off, imagining the likeness from afar, they made a visible image of the king whom they honored, 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 toward a greater beauty.

20: So the multitude, allured by reason of the grace of his handiwork, now consider an object of devotion him that a little before was honored 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 was not enough for them to go astray concerning the knowledge of God, but also, while they live in a great war of ignorance, they call a multitude of evils peace.

23: For 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 upon 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 is good, forgetfulness of favors, ingratitude for benefits, defiling of souls, confusion of sex, disorder in marriage, adultery and wantonness.

27: For the worship of idols that may not be named is a beginning and cause and end of every evil.

28: For their worshipers either make merry to madness, or prophesy lies, or live unrighteously, or lightly commit perjury.

29: For putting their trust in lifeless idols, when they have 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: For it is not the power of things by which men swear, but it is the just penalty for those who sin that always visits the transgression of the unrighteous.

Wisdom Chapter 15

¹But you, our God, are gracious and true, patient, and in mercy ordering all things. ²For even if we sin, we are yours, knowing your dominion; but we will not sin, knowing that we have been accounted yours. ³For to be acquainted with you is perfect righteousness, and to know your dominion is the root of immortality. ⁴For we weren’t led astray by any evil plan of men’s, nor yet by painters’ fruitless labor, a form stained with varied colors, ⁵the sight of which leads fools into lust. Their desire is for the breathless form of a dead image. ⁶Lovers of evil things, and worthy of such hopes, are those who make, desire, and worship them. ⁷For a potter, kneading soft earth, laboriously molds each article for our service. He fashions out of the same clay both the vessels that minister to clean uses, and those of a contrary sort, all in like manner. What shall be the use of each article of either sort, the potter is the judge. ⁸Also, laboring to an evil end, he molds a vain god out of the same clay, he who, having but a little before been made of earth, after a short space goes his way to the earth out of which he was taken, when he is required to give back the soul which was lent him. ⁹However he has anxious care, not because his powers must fail, nor because his span of life is short; But he compares himself with goldsmiths and silversmiths, and he imitates molders in brass, and considers it great that he molds counterfeit gods. ¹⁰His heart is ashes. His hope is of less value than earth. His life is of less honor than clay, ¹¹because he was ignorant of him who molded him, and of him that inspired into him an active soul, and breathed into him a vital spirit. ¹²But he accounted our life to be a game, and our lifetime a festival for profit; for, he says, one must get gain however one can, even if it is by evil. ¹³For this man, beyond all others, knows that he sins, out of earthy matter making brittle vessels and engraved images. ¹⁴But most foolish and more miserable than a baby, are the enemies of your people, who oppressed them; ¹⁵because they even considered all the idols of the nations to be gods, which have neither the use of eyes for seeing, nor nostrils for drawing breath, nor ears to hear, nor fingers for handling, and their feet are helpless for walking. ¹⁶For a man made them, and one whose own spirit is borrowed molded them; for no one has power as a man to mold a god like himself. ¹⁷But, being mortal, he makes a dead thing by the work of lawless hands; for he is better than the objects of his worship, since he indeed had life, but they never did. ¹⁸Yes, and they worship the creatures that are most hateful, for, being compared as to lack of sense, these are worse than all others; ¹⁹Neither, as seen beside other creatures, are they beautiful, so that one should desire them, but they have escaped both the praise of God and his blessing.

1: But you, our God, are gracious and true, patient, and in mercy ordering all things.

2: For even if we sin, we are yours, knowing your dominion; but we will not sin, knowing that we have been accounted yours.

3: For to be acquainted with you is perfect righteousness, and to know your dominion is the root of immortality.

4: For we weren’t led astray by any evil plan of men’s, nor yet by painters’ fruitless labor, a form stained with varied colors,

5: the sight of which leads fools into lust. Their desire is for the breathless form of a dead image.

6: Lovers of evil things, and worthy of such hopes, are those who make, desire, and worship them.

7: For a potter, kneading soft earth, laboriously molds each article for our service. He fashions out of the same clay both the vessels that minister to clean uses, and those of a contrary sort, all in like manner. What shall be the use of each article of either sort, the potter is the judge.

8: Also, laboring to an evil end, he molds a vain god out of the same clay, he who, having but a little before been made of earth, after a short space goes his way to the earth out of which he was taken, when he is required to give back the soul which was lent him.

9: However he has anxious care, not because his powers must fail, nor because his span of life is short; But he compares himself with goldsmiths and silversmiths, and he imitates molders in brass, and considers it great that he molds counterfeit gods.

10: His heart is ashes. His hope is of less value than earth. His life is of less honor than clay,

11: because he was ignorant of him who molded him, and of him that inspired into him an active soul, and breathed into him a vital spirit.

12: But he accounted our life to be a game, and our lifetime a festival for profit; for, he says, one must get gain however one can, even if it is by evil.

13: For this man, beyond all others, knows that he sins, out of earthy matter making brittle vessels and engraved images.

14: But most foolish and more miserable than a baby, are the enemies of your people, who oppressed them;

15: because they even considered all the idols of the nations to be gods, which have neither the use of eyes for seeing, nor nostrils for drawing breath, nor ears to hear, nor fingers for handling, and their feet are helpless for walking.

16: For a man made them, and one whose own spirit is borrowed molded them; for no one has power as a man to mold a god like himself.

17: But, being mortal, he makes a dead thing by the work of lawless hands; for he is better than the objects of his worship, since he indeed had life, but they never did.

18: Yes, and they worship the creatures that are most hateful, for, being compared as to lack of sense, these are worse than all others;

19: Neither, as seen beside other creatures, are they beautiful, so that one should desire them, but they have escaped both the praise of God and his blessing.

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Scripture text: World English Bible, Catholic Edition (WEBC) — public domain

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