Chapter 34

¹The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools. ²The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind. ³The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man. ⁴What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false? ⁵Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity: ⁶And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it be a vision sent forth from the most High, set no thy heart upon them. ⁷For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them. ⁸The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful. ⁹What doth he know, that hath not been tried? A man that hath much experience, shall think of many things: and he that hath learned many things, shall shew forth understanding. ¹⁰He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence. ¹¹He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety. ¹²I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things. ¹³Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God. ¹⁴The spirit of those that fear God; is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed. ¹⁵For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him. ¹⁶He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid for he is his hope. ¹⁷The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed. ¹⁸To whom doth he look, and who in his strength? ¹⁹The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, he is their powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from the heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, ²⁰A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling; he raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and life, and blessing. ²¹The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable. ²²The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice. ²³The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked: neither hath he respect to the oblations of the unjust, nor will he be pacified for sine by the multitude of their sacrifices. ²⁴He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father. ²⁵The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood. ²⁶He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour. ²⁷He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, are brothers. ²⁸When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour? ²⁹When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear? ³⁰He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail? ³¹So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again, what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer?