Wisdom 14:16-18

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

¹⁶ Then in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of tyrants.

¹⁷ And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an express image of the king whom they had a mind to honour: that by this their diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent.

¹⁸ And to worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.