The vanity of dreams. The advantage of experience, and of the fear of
God.
34:1. The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and
deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.
34:2. The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that
catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
34:3. The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another:
as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man.
34:4. What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come
from that which is false?
34:5. Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of
evildoers, are vanity:
34:6. And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it
be a vision sent forth from the most High, set not thy heart upon them.
34:7. For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put
their trust in them.
34:8. The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom
shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.
34:9. What 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.
34:10. He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath
been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.
34:11. He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know?
he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.
34:12. I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of
things.
34:13. Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I
have been delivered by the grace of God.
34:14. The spirit of those that fear God, is sought after, and by his
regard shall be blessed.
34:15. For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God
are upon them that love him.
34:16. He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not
be afraid: for he is his hope.
34:17. The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.
34:18. To whom doth he look, and who is his strength?
34:19. The 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,
34:20. A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling: he
raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and
life, and blessing.
34:21. The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully
gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.
34:22. The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth
and justice.
34:23. The 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 sins by the multitude of their sacrifices.
34:24. He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one
that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.
34:25. The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that
defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.
34:26. He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that
killeth his neighbour.
34:27. He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the laborer of
his hire, are brothers.
34:28. When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have
they but the labour?
34:29. When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God
hear?
34:30. He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth
him again, what doth his washing avail?
34:31. So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again,
what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer?