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Israel was not led astray by idolatry 1 But you, our God, are gracious and true, patient, and ordering all things in mercy. 2 For if we sin, we are yours, knowing your greatness: and if we sin not, we know that we are counted with you. 3 For to know you is perfect justice: and to know your justice, and your power, is the root of immortality. 4 For the invention of mischievous men has not deceived us, nor the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with divers colours, 5 The sight whereof entices the fool to lust after it, and he loves the lifeless figure of a dead image. 6 The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they that worship them. Artisans of idols and lovers of evil 7 The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashions every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he makes both vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the judge. 8 And of the same clay by a vain labour he makes a god: he who a little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returns to the same out of which he was taken, when his life which was lent him shall be called for again. 9 But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is short, but he strives with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he endeavors to do like the workers in brass, and counts it a glory to make vain things. 10 For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth, and his life more base than clay: 11 Forasmuch as he knew not his maker and him that inspired into him the soul that works, and that breathed into him a living spirit. 12 Yea and they have counted our life a pastime, and the business of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of evil. 13 For that man knows that he offends above all others, who of earthly matter makes brittle vessels, and graven gods. Men are superior to the idols they worship 14 But all the enemies of your people that hold them in subjection, are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure: 15 For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for gods, which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle, and as for their feet, they are slow to walk. 16 For man made them: and he that borrows his own breath, fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself. 17 For being mortal himself, he forms a dead thing with his wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worships, because he indeed has lived, though he were mortal, but they never. The Egyptians deified God's lowest creatures 18 Moreover they worship also the vilest creatures: but things without sense compared to these, are worse than they. 19 Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But they have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing. Commentary on Wisdom 15
CCC 15:5 2520
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