The Holy Scripture
Chapter XXXI
The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false: and dreams lift up fools.
ἀγρυπνία πλούτου ἐκτήκει σάρκας καὶ ἡ μέριμνα αὐτοῦ ἀφιστᾷ ὕπνον
Whoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
μέριμνα ἀγρυπνίας ἀποστήσει νυσταγμόν καὶ ἀρρώστημα βαρὺ ἐκνήψει ὕπνον
The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the likeness of a face to a face.
ἐκοπίασεν πλούσιος ἐν συναγωγῇ χρημάτων καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐμπίμπλαται τῶν τρυφημάτων αὐτοῦ
Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed? and from that thing which is false what truth can come?
ἐκοπίασεν πτωχὸς ἐν ἐλαττώσει βίου καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει ἐπιδεὴς γίνεται
Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancieth, as a woman's heart in travail.
ὁ ἀγαπῶν χρυσίον οὐ δικαιωθήσεται καὶ ὁ διώκων διάφορα ἐν αὐτοῖς πλανηθήσεται
If they be not sent from the most High in thy visitation, set not thy heart upon them.
πολλοὶ ἐδόθησαν εἰς πτῶμα χάριν χρυσίου καὶ ἐγενήθη ἡ ἀπώλεια αὐτῶν κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν
For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.
ξύλον προσκόμματός ἐστιν τοῖς ἐνθουσιάζουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ πᾶς ἄφρων ἁλώσεται ἐν αὐτῷ
The law shall be found perfect without lies: and wisdom is perfection to a faithful mouth.
μακάριος πλούσιος ὃς εὑρέθη ἄμωμος καὶ ὃς ὀπίσω χρυσίου οὐκ ἐπορεύθη
A man that hath travelled knoweth many things: and he that hath much experience will declare wisdom.
τίς ἐστιν καὶ μακαριοῦμεν αὐτόν ἐποίησεν γὰρ θαυμάσια ἐν λαῷ αὐτοῦ
He that hath no experience knoweth little: but he that hath travelled is full of prudence.
τίς ἐδοκιμάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐτελειώθη καὶ ἔσται αὐτῷ εἰς καύχησιν τίς ἐδύνατο παραβῆναι καὶ οὐ παρέβη καὶ ποιῆσαι κακὰ καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησεν
When I travelled, I saw many things; and I understand more than I can express.
στερεωθήσεται τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς ἐλεημοσύνας αὐτοῦ ἐκδιηγήσεται ἐκκλησία
I was oft-times in danger of death: yet I was delivered because of these things.
ἐπὶ τραπέζης μεγάλης ἐκάθισας μὴ ἀνοίξῃς ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς φάρυγγά σου καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς πολλά γε τὰ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς
The spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live; for their hope is in him that saveth them.
μνήσθητι ὅτι κακὸν ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός πονηρότερον ὀφθαλμοῦ τί ἔκτισται διὰ τοῦτο ἀπὸ παντὸς προσώπου δακρύει
Whoso feareth the Lord shall not fear nor be afraid; for he is his hope.
οὗ ἐὰν ἐπιβλέψῃ μὴ ἐκτείνῃς χεῖρα καὶ μὴ συνθλίβου αὐτῷ ἐν τρυβλίῳ
Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord: to whom doth he look? and who is his strength?
νόει τὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἐκ σεαυτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ πράγματι διανοοῦ
For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and an help from falling;
φάγε ὡς ἄνθρωπος τὰ παρακείμενά σοι καὶ μὴ διαμασῶ μὴ μισηθῇς
he raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth health, life, and blessing.
παῦσαι πρῶτος χάριν παιδείας καὶ μὴ ἀπληστεύου μήποτε προσκόψῃς
He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted.
καὶ εἰ ἀνὰ μέσον πλειόνων ἐκάθισας πρότερος αὐτῶν μὴ ἐκτείνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου
The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices.
ὡς ἱκανὸν ἀνθρώπῳ πεπαιδευμένῳ τὸ ὀλίγον καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀσθμαίνει
Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor doeth as one that killeth the son before his father's eyes.
ὕπνος ὑγιείας ἐπὶ ἐντέρῳ μετρίῳ ἀνέστη πρωί καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ πόνος ἀγρυπνίας καὶ χολέρας καὶ στρόφος μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἀπλήστου
The bread of the needy is their life: he that defraudeth him thereof is a man of blood.
καὶ εἰ ἐβιάσθης ἐν ἐδέσμασιν ἀνάστα ἔμεσον πόρρω καὶ ἀναπαύσῃ
He that taketh away his neighbour's living slayeth him; and he that defraudeth the labourer his hire is a bloodshedder.
ἄκουσόν μου τέκνον καὶ μὴ ἐξουδενήσῃς με καὶ ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων εὑρήσεις τοὺς λόγους μου ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου γίνου ἐντρεχής καὶ πᾶν ἀρρώστημα οὐ μή σοι ἀπαντήσῃ
When one buildeth, and another pulleth down, what profit have they then but labour?
λαμπρὸν ἐπ᾿ ἄρτοις εὐλογήσει χείλη καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ πιστή
When one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voice will the Lord hear?
πονηρῷ ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ διαγογγύσει πόλις καὶ ἡ μαρτυρία τῆς πονηρίας αὐτοῦ ἀκριβής
He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what availeth his washing?
ἐν οἴνῳ μὴ ἀνδρίζου πολλοὺς γὰρ ἀπώλεσεν ὁ οἶνος
So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and goeth again, and doeth the same: who will hear his prayer? or what doth his humbling profit him?
κάμινος δοκιμάζει στόμωμα ἐν βαφῇ οὕτως οἶνος καρδίας ἐν μάχῃ ὑπερηφάνων