1Vain hope and a leasing to an unwise man; and dreams [or swevens] enhance unprudent men.

2As he that taketh [or catcheth] a shadow, and pursueth wind, so and he that taketh heed to leasings seen, or in vain dreams.

3After this thing is the sight of dreams [or swevens]; before the face of a man is the likeness of another man.

4What shall be cleansed of him that is unclean, and what true thing shall be said of a liar? [Of the unclean, what shall be cleansed, and of the liar, what sooth shall be said?]

5False divining of error, and false divinings by chittering of birds, and dreams of witches, is vanity. And as the heart of a woman travailing of [or bearing] child, thine heart suffereth fantasies;

6no but visitation is sent out of the Highest, give thou not thine heart in those dreams.

7For why dreams have made many men for to err, and men hoping in those [or them] fell down [or fell away].

8The word of the law of God and of his prophets, shall be made perfect without leasing; and wisdom in the mouth of a faithful man shall be made plain.

9What knoweth he, that is not assayed? A man assayed in many things, shall think many things; and he that learned many things, shall tell out understanding.

10He that is not assayed [or Who Is not expert], knoweth few things; forsooth he that is a fool in many things, shall multiply malice.

11What manner things know he, that is not assayed? He that is not planted, that is, hath not set root of understanding, and desire in good, shall be plenteous in wickedness [or abound shrewdness]. I saw many things in telling out, and full many customs of words.

12Sometime I was in peril unto death, for the cause of these things; and I was delivered by the grace of God.

13The spirit of them that dread God is sought, and shall be blessed in the beholding of him. For why the hope of them is into God saving them; and the eyes of the Lord be into them, that love him.

14He that dreadeth God, shall not tremble for anything, and he shall not dread; for why God is his hope.

15The soul of him that dreadeth the Lord, is blessed. To whom beholdeth he, and who is his strength?

16The eyes of the Lord be on them that dread him. God is a defender of might, steadfastness [or firmament] of virtue, covering of heat, and a sha-dowing place of midday; beseeching of offending, that is, hearing beseech-ing for offenses, and help of falling,

17enhancing the soul, and lighten-ing the eyes, and giving health, and life, and blessing.

18The offering of him that offereth of wicked thing, that is, of thing gotten unjustly, is defouled; and the scornings of unjust men be not well pleasant [or well-pleasing].

19The Lord alone is to them that abide him in the way of truth, and of rightfulness [or rightwiseness]. The Highest approveth not the gifts of wicked men, neither beholdeth in the offerings of wicked men, neither in the multitude of their sacrifices he shall do [or have mercy] to their sins.

20He that offereth sacrifice of the chattel [or substance] of poor men, is as he that slayeth the son in the sight of his father.

21The bread of needy men is the life of a poor man; he that defraudeth him, is a man of blood.

22He that taketh away bread earned in sweat, is as he that slayeth his neighbour. He that sheddeth out blood, and he that doeth fraud to an hired man, be brethren.

23One building, and one destroy-ing; what profiteth it to them, no but travail?

24One praying, and one cursing; whose voice shall the Lord hear?

25What profiteth the washing of him, that is washed for a dead body, and toucheth again a dead body? [That is baptized from the dead, and again toucheth the dead, what profit-eth his washing?]

26So a man that fasteth in his sins, and again doing the same sins, what profiteth he in meeking himself? who shall hear his prayer?