34:1 Empty and false are the hopes of the senseless, and fools are borne aloft by dreams.
34:2 Like a man who catches at shadows or chases the wind, is the one who believes in dreams.
34:3 What is seen in dreams is to reality what the reflection of a face is to the face itself.
34:4 Can the unclean produce the clean? can the liar ever speak the truth?
34:5 Divination, omens and dreams all are unreal; what you already expect, the mind depicts.
34:6 Unless it be a vision specially sent by the Most High, fix not your heart on it;
34:7 For dreams have led many astray, and those who believed in them have perished.
34:8 The law is fulfilled without fail, and perfect wisdom is found in the mouth of the faithful man.
34:9 A man with training gains wide knowledge; a man of experience speaks sense.
34:10 One never put to the proof knows little, whereas with travel a man adds to his resourcefulness.
34:11 I have seen much in my travels, learned more than ever I could say.
34:12 Often I was in danger of death, but by these attainments I was saved.
34:13 Lively is the courage of those who fear the LORD, for they put their hope in their savior;
34:14 He who fears the LORD is never alarmed, never afraid; for the LORD is his hope.
34:15 Happy the soul that fears the LORD! In whom does he trust, and who is his support?
34:16 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.
34:17 He buoys up the spirits, brings a sparkle to the eyes, gives health and life and blessing.
34:18 Tainted his gifts who offers in sacrifice ill-gotten goods! Mock presents from the lawless win not God’s favor.
34:19 The Most High approves not the gifts of the godless, nor for their many sacrifices does he forgive their sins.
34:20 Like the man who slays a son in his father’s presence is he who offers sacrifice from the possessions of the poor.
34:21 The bread of charity is life itself for the needy; he who withholds it is a man of blood.
34:22 He slays his neighbor who deprives him of his living: he sheds blood who denies the laborer his wages.
34:23 If one man builds up and another tears down, what do they gain but trouble?
34:24 If one man prays and another curses, whose voice will the LORD hear?
34:25 If a man again touches a corpse after he has bathed, what did he gain by the purification?
34:26 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?