Wisdom of Solomon 15 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[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.
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.
Footnotes
- § 15:3 Gr. entire.
- ‡ 15:5 Some authorities read reproach.
- § 15:8 Or, life
- § 15:9 Or, copper
- § 15:11a Gr. a soul that moves to activity.
- § 15:11b Or, life
- ‡ 15:12a Some authorities read they accounted.
- § 15:12b Or, way of life
King James Version
Book not available in King James Version
Septuaginta
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament
[1] Σὺ G4771 (P-2NS) δέ, G1161 (CONJ) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) θεὸς G2316 (N-NSM) ἡμῶν, G2257 (P-1GP) χρηστὸς G5543 (A-NSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀληθής, G227 (A-NSM) μακρόθυμος (A-NSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἐλέει G1656 (N-DSN) διοικῶν (V-PAP-NSM) τὰ G3588 (T-APN) πάντα. G3956 (A-APN) [2] Καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) ἐὰν G1437 (COND) ἁμάρτωμεν, G264 (V-2AAS-1P) σοί G4674 (S-2SNPM) ἐσμεν, G2070 (V-PAI-1P) εἰδότες G1492 (V-RAP-NPM) σου G4675 (P-2GS) τὸ G3588 (T-ASN) κράτος· G2904 (N-ASN) οὐχ G3756 (PRT-N) ἁμαρτησόμεθα G264 (V-FMI-1P) δέ, G1161 (CONJ) εἰδότες G1492 (V-RAP-NPM) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) σοὶ G4674 (S-2SNPM) λελογίσμεθα. G3049 (V-REI-1P) [3] Τὸ G3588 (T-NSN) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) ἐπίστασθαί G1987 (V-PMN) σε G4571 (P-2AS) ὁλόκληρος G3648 (A-NSF) δικαιοσύνη, G1343 (N-NSF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) εἰδέναι G1492 (V-RAN) σου G4675 (P-2GS) τὸ G3588 (T-ASN) κράτος G2904 (N-ASN) ῥίζα G4491 (N-NSF) ἀθανασίας. G110 (N-GSF) [4] Οὔτε G3777 (CONJ-N) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) ἐπλάνησεν G4105 (V-AAI-3S) ἡμᾶς G2248 (P-1AP) ἀνθρώπων G444 (N-GPM) κακότεχνος (A-NSF) ἐπίνοια G1963 (N-NSF) οὐδὲ G3761 (CONJ-N) σκιαγράφων (N-GPM) πόνος G4192 (N-NSM) ἄκαρπος, G175 (A-NSM) εἶδος G1491 (N-NSN) σπιλωθὲν G4695 (V-APP-NSN) χρώμασιν (N-DPN) διηλλαγμένοις, G1259 (V-RMP-DPN) [5] ὧν G3739 (R-GPN) ὄψις G3799 (N-NSF) ἄφροσιν G878 (A-DPM-C) εἰς G1519 (PREP) ὄρεξιν G3715 (N-ASF) ἔρχεται, G2064 (V-PNI-3S) ποθεῖ (V-PAI-3S) τε G5037 (PRT) νεκρᾶς G3498 (A-GSF) εἰκόνος G1504 (N-GSF) εἶδος G1491 (N-ASN) ἄπνουν. (A-ASN) [6] Κακῶν G2556 (A-GPN) ἐρασταὶ (N-NPM) ἄξιοί G514 (A-NPM) τε G5037 (PRT) τοιούτων G5108 (D-GPM) ἐλπίδων G1680 (N-GPF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) δρῶντες (V-PAP-NPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) ποθοῦντες (V-PAP-NPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) σεβόμενοι. G4576 (V-PEP-NPM) [7] Καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) κεραμεὺς G2763 (N-NSM) ἁπαλὴν G527 (A-ASF) γῆν G1093 (N-ASF) θλίβων G2346 (V-PAP-NSM) ἐπίμοχθον (A-ASF) πλάσσει G4111 (V-PAI-3S) πρὸς G4314 (PREP) ὑπηρεσίαν (N-ASF) ἡμῶν G2257 (P-1GP) ἓν G1520 (A-ASN) ἕκαστον· G1538 (A-ASN) ἀλλ’ G235 (CONJ) ἐκ G1537 (PREP) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) αὐτοῦ G846 (P-GSM) πηλοῦ G4081 (N-GSM) ἀνεπλάσατο (V-AMI-3S) τά G3588 (T-APN) τε G5037 (PRT) τῶν G3588 (T-GPN) καθαρῶν G2513 (A-GPN) ἔργων G2041 (N-GPN) δοῦλα G1401 (A-APN) σκεύη G4632 (N-APN) τά G3588 (T-APN) τε G5037 (PRT) ἐναντία, G1727 (A-APN) πάντα G3956 (A-APN) ὁμοίως· G3668 (ADV) τούτων G5130 (D-GPN) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) ἑτέρου G2087 (A-GSN) τίς G5101 (I-NSM) ἑκάστου G1538 (A-GSN) ἐστὶν G2076 (V-PAI-3S) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) χρῆσις, G5540 (N-NSF) κριτὴς G2923 (N-NSM) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) πηλουργός. (N-NSM) [8] Καὶ G2532 (CONJ) κακόμοχθος (A-NSM) θεὸν G2316 (N-ASM) μάταιον G3152 (A-ASM) ἐκ G1537 (PREP) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) αὐτοῦ G846 (P-GSM) πλάσσει G4111 (V-PAI-3S) πηλοῦ G4081 (N-GSM) ὃς G3739 (R-NSM) πρὸ G4253 (PREP) μικροῦ G3398 (A-GSN) ἐκ G1537 (PREP) γῆς G1093 (N-GSF) γενηθεὶς G1096 (V-ANP-NSM) μετ’ G3326 (PREP) ὀλίγον G3641 (A-ASN) πορεύεται G4198 (V-PNI-3S) ἐξ G1537 (PREP) ἧς G3739 (R-GSF) ἐλήμφθη, G2983 (V-API-3S) τὸ G3588 (T-ASN) τῆς G3588 (T-GSF) ψυχῆς G5590 (N-GSF) ἀπαιτηθεὶς G523 (V-APP-NSM) χρέος. (N-ASN) [9] Ἀλλ’ G235 (CONJ) ἔστιν G2076 (V-PAI-3S) αὐτῷ G846 (P-DSM) φροντὶς (N-NSF) οὐχ G3756 (PRT-N) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) μέλλει G3195 (V-PAI-3S) κάμνειν G2577 (V-PAN) οὐδ’ G3761 (CONJ-N) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) βραχυτελῆ (A-ASM) βίον G979 (N-ASM) ἔχει, G2192 (V-PAI-3S) ἀλλ’ G235 (CONJ) ἀντερείδεται (V-PEI-3S) μὲν G3303 (PRT) χρυσουργοῖς (N-DPM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἀργυροχόοις (N-DPM) χαλκοπλάστας (N-APM) τε G5037 (PRT) μιμεῖται G3401 (V-PEI-3S) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) δόξαν G1391 (N-ASF) ἡγεῖται G2233 (V-PEI-3S) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) κίβδηλα (A-APN) πλάσσει. G4111 (V-PAI-3S) [10] Σποδὸς G4700 (N-NSF) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) καρδία G2588 (N-NSF) αὐτοῦ, G846 (P-GSM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γῆς G1093 (N-GSF) εὐτελεστέρα (A-NSF-C) ἡ G3588 (T-NSF) ἐλπὶς G1680 (N-NSF) αὐτοῦ, G846 (P-GSM) πηλοῦ G4081 (N-GSM) τε G5037 (PRT) ἀτιμότερος G820 (A-NSM-C) ὁ G3588 (T-NSM) βίος G979 (N-NSM) αὐτοῦ, G846 (P-GSM) [11] ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) ἠγνόησεν G50 (V-AAI-3S) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) πλάσαντα G4111 (V-AAP-ASM) αὐτὸν G846 (P-ASM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) ἐμπνεύσαντα G1709 (V-AAP-ASM) αὐτῷ G846 (P-DSM) ψυχὴν G5590 (N-ASF) ἐνεργοῦσαν G1754 (V-PAP-ASF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) ἐμφυσήσαντα G1720 (V-AAP-ASM) πνεῦμα G4151 (N-ASN) ζωτικόν, (A-ASN) [12] ἀλλ’ G235 (CONJ) ἐλογίσαντο G3049 (V-AMI-3P) παίγνιον (N-ASN) εἶναι G1511 (V-PAN) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) ζωὴν G2222 (N-ASF) ἡμῶν G2257 (P-1GP) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) βίον G979 (N-ASM) πανηγυρισμὸν (N-ASM) ἐπικερδῆ, (A-ASM) δεῖν G1163 (V-PAN) γάρ G1063 (CONJ) φησιν G5346 (V-PAI-3S) ὅθεν G3606 (ADV) δή, G1211 (PRT) κἂν G2579 (COND-K) ἐκ G1537 (PREP) κακοῦ, G2556 (A-GSN) πορίζειν. (V-PAN) [13] Οὗτος G3778 (D-NSM) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) παρὰ G3844 (PREP) πάντας G3956 (A-APM) οἶδεν G1492 (V-RAI-3S) ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) ἁμαρτάνει G264 (V-PAI-3S) ὕλης G5208 (N-GSF) γεώδους (A-GSF) εὔθραυστα (A-APN) σκεύη G4632 (N-APN) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) γλυπτὰ (A-APN) δημιουργῶν. G1217 (N-GPM) [14] Πάντες G3956 (A-NPM) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) ἀφρονέστατοι G878 (A-NPM-S) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τάλανες (A-NPM) ὑπὲρ G5228 (PREP) ψυχὴν G5590 (N-ASF) νηπίου G3516 (A-GSM) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) ἐχθροὶ G2190 (A-NPM) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) λαοῦ G2992 (N-GSM) σου G4675 (P-2GS) καταδυναστεύσαντες G2616 (V-AAP-NPM) αὐτόν, G846 (P-ASM) [15] ὅτι G3754 (CONJ) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) πάντα G3956 (A-APN) τὰ G3588 (T-APN) εἴδωλα G1497 (N-APN) τῶν G3588 (T-GPN) ἐθνῶν G1484 (N-GPN) ἐλογίσαντο G3049 (V-AMI-3P) θεούς, G2316 (N-APM) οἷς G3739 (R-DPN) οὔτε G3777 (CONJ-N) ὀμμάτων G3659 (N-GPN) χρῆσις G5540 (N-NSF) εἰς G1519 (PREP) ὅρασιν G3706 (N-ASF) οὔτε G3777 (CONJ-N) ῥῖνες (N-NPF) εἰς G1519 (PREP) συνολκὴν (N-ASF) ἀέρος G109 (N-GSM) οὔτε G3777 (CONJ-N) ὦτα G3775 (N-ASN) ἀκούειν G191 (V-PAN) οὔτε G3777 (CONJ-N) δάκτυλοι G1147 (N-NPM) χειρῶν G5495 (N-GPF) εἰς G1519 (PREP) ψηλάφησιν (N-ASF) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) οἱ G3588 (T-NPM) πόδες G4228 (N-NPM) αὐτῶν G846 (P-GPM) ἀργοὶ G692 (A-NPM) πρὸς G4314 (PREP) ἐπίβασιν. (N-ASF) [16] Ἄνθρωπος G444 (N-NSM) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) ἐποίησεν G4160 (V-AAI-3S) αὐτούς, G846 (P-APM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τὸ G3588 (T-ASN) πνεῦμα G4151 (N-ASN) δεδανεισμένος G1155 (V-RMP-NSM) ἔπλασεν G4111 (V-AAI-3S) αὐτούς· G846 (P-APM) οὐδεὶς G3762 (A-NSM-N) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) αὐτῷ G846 (P-DSM) ὅμοιον G3664 (A-ASM) ἄνθρωπος G444 (N-NSM) ἰσχύει G2480 (V-PAI-3S) πλάσαι G4111 (V-AAN) θεόν· G2316 (N-ASM) [17] θνητὸς G2349 (A-NSM) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) ὢν G5607 (V-PAP-NSM) νεκρὸν G3498 (A-ASM) ἐργάζεται G2038 (V-PNI-3S) χερσὶν G5495 (N-DPF) ἀνόμοις· G459 (A-DPM) κρείττων G2909 (A-NSM-C) γάρ G1063 (CONJ) ἐστιν G2076 (V-PAI-3S) τῶν G3588 (T-GPN) σεβασμάτων G4574 (N-GPN) αὐτοῦ, G846 (P-GSM) ὧν G3739 (R-GPM) αὐτὸς G846 (P-NSM) μὲν G3303 (PRT) ἔζησεν, G2198 (V-AAI-3S) ἐκεῖνα G1565 (D-APN) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) οὐδέποτε. G3763 (ADV-N) — [18] καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τὰ G3588 (T-APN) ζῷα G2226 (N-APN) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) τὰ G3588 (T-APN) ἔχθιστα G2190 (A-APN-S) σέβονται· G4576 (V-PNI-3P) ἀνοίᾳ G454 (N-DSF) γὰρ G1063 (CONJ) συγκρινόμενα G4793 (V-PMP-NPN) τῶν G3588 (T-GPN) ἄλλων G243 (A-GPN) ἐστὶ G2076 (V-PAI-3S) χείρονα· G5501 (A-NPN) [19] οὐδ’ G3761 (CONJ-N) ὅσον G3745 (K-ASN) ἐπιποθῆσαι G1971 (V-AAN) ὡς G5613 (ADV) ἐν G1722 (PREP) ζῴων G2226 (N-GPN) ὄψει G3799 (N-DSF) καλὰ G2570 (A-APN) τυγχάνει, G5177 (V-PAI-3S) ἐκπέφευγεν G1628 (V-RAI-3S) δὲ G1161 (CONJ) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τὸν G3588 (T-ASM) τοῦ G3588 (T-GSM) θεοῦ G2316 (N-GSM) ἔπαινον G1868 (N-ASM) καὶ G2532 (CONJ) τὴν G3588 (T-ASF) εὐλογίαν G2129 (N-ASF) αὐτοῦ. G846 (P-GSM)