WISDOM 34

1 The expectancies of a man of no understanding are empty and false;
And dreams raise up fools.

2 Whoever regards dreams is like he who catches at a shadow,
And follows after the wind.

3 The vision of dreams is the reflection of one to another,
Even as the likeness of a face to a face.

4 From an unclean matter, what may be cleansed?
And from that which is false, what truth shall come?

5 Divination, and predictions, and dreams, are empty;
And imaginations of the heart,
As the heart of a woman in childbirth.

6 If they are not sent from the Most High in your visitation,
Do not lay your heart upon them.

7 For dreams have deceived many,
And they have failed those who put their trust in them.

8 The Law shall be found perfect without falsehood;
And wisdom is perfection to a trustworthy mouth.

9 A man that has travelled knows much;
And he who has much experience shall declare wisdom.

10 He who has no experience knows little;
But he who has travelled is full of insight.

11 When I travelled, I saw much;
And I understand more than I could express.

12 I was often in danger of death;
Yet I was delivered because of these:

13 The spirit of those who revere 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 shall live;
For their expectancy is in He who saves them.

14 Whoever reveres 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 shall not fear nor be afraid;
For He is his expectancy.

15 Baruḵ is the being of he who reveres 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄:
To whom does he look, and who is his strength?

16 For the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 are upon those who love Him,
He is their mighty shield and strong support,
A protection from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon,
A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling.

17 He raises up the being, and lightens the eyes:
He gives health, ḥai, and beraḵah.

18 He who offers of what is wrongfully gotten, his offering is a mockery;
And the gifts of unrighteous men are not accepted.

19 The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked;
Nor is He appeased by the multitude of offerings for sin.

20 Whoever brings an offering from the goods of the poor,
Does as one that kills the son before his father’s eyes.

21 The bread of the needy is their life;
He who deprives him of it is a man of blood.

22 He who takes away the livelihood of his neighbour slays him;
And he who deprives the labourer of his wage is a shedder of blood.

23 When one builds, and another pulls down,
What profit do they have but labour?

24 When one prays, and another curses,
Whose voice shall 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 hear?

25 He who washes himself after touching a dead body,
If he touches it again, what use is his washing?

26 So it is with a man that fasts for his sins, and goes again, and does the same;
Who shall hear his prayer, or what does his humbling profit him?