14
For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
15
For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices.
16
Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings.
17
Whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.
18
Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.