| 1 Empty and false are the hopes of the senseless, and fools are borne aloft by dreams. |
| 2 Like a man who catches at shadows or chases the wind, is the one who believes in dreams. |
| 3 What is seen in dreams is to reality what the reflection of a face is to the face itself. |
| 4 Can the unclean produce the clean? can the liar ever speak the truth? |
| 5 Divination, omens and dreams all are unreal; what you already expect, the mind depicts. |
| 6 Unless it be a vision specially sent by the Most High, fix not your heart on it; |
| 7 For dreams have led many astray, and those who believed in them have perished. |
| 8 The law is fulfilled without fail, and perfect wisdom is found in the mouth of the faithful man. |
| 9 A man with training gains wide knowledge; a man of experience speaks sense. |
| 10 One never put to the proof knows little, whereas with travel a man adds to his resourcefulness. |
| 11 I have seen much in my travels, learned more than ever I could say. |
| 12 Often I was in danger of death, but by these attainments I was saved. |
| 13 Lively is the courage of those who fear the LORD, for they put their hope in their savior; |
| 14 He who fears the LORD is never alarmed, never afraid; for the LORD is his hope. |
| 15 Happy the soul that fears the LORD! In whom does he trust, and who is his support? |
| 16 The eyes of the LORD are upon those who love him; he is their mighty shield and strong support, A shelter from the heat, a shade from the noonday sun, a guard against stumbling, a help against falling. |
| 17 He buoys up the spirits, brings a sparkle to the eyes, gives health and life and blessing. |
| 18 Tainted his gifts who offers in sacrifice ill-gotten goods! Mock presents from the lawless win not God's favor. |
| 19 The Most High approves not the gifts of the godless, nor for their many sacrifices does he forgive their sins. |
| 20 Like the man who slays a son in his father's presence is he who offers sacrifice from the possessions of the poor. |
| 21 The bread of charity is life itself for the needy; he who withholds it is a man of blood. |
| 22 He slays his neighbor who deprives him of his living: he sheds blood who denies the laborer his wages. |
| 23 If one man builds up and another tears down, what do they gain but trouble? |
| 24 If one man prays and another curses, whose voice will the LORD hear? |
| 25 If a man again touches a corpse after he has bathed, what did he gain by the purification? |
| 26 So with a man who fasts for his sins, but then goes and commits them again: Who will hear his prayer, and what has he gained by his mortification? |