9 Some of them he exalted and hallowed,
and some of them he has made ordinary days.
10 And all men are from the ground.
Adam was created from dust.
11 In the abundance of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them,
and made their ways different.
12 Some of them he blessed and exalted,
and some of them he made holy and brought near to himself.
Some of them he cursed and brought low,
and overthrew them from their place.
13 As the clay of the potter in his hand,
all his ways are according to his good pleasure,
so men are in the hand of him who made them,
to give to them according to his judgement.
14 Good is the opposite of evil,
and life is the opposite of death;
so† the sinner is the opposite of the godly.
15 Look upon all the works of the Most High like this,
they come in pairs, one against another.
16 I was the last on watch,
like one who gleans after the grape gatherers.
17 By the Lord’s blessing I arrived before them,
and filled my winepress like one who gathers grapes.
18 Consider that I laboured not for myself alone,
but for all those who seek instruction.
19 Hear me, you great men of the people,
and listen with your ears, you rulers of the congregation.
20 To son and wife, to brother and friend,
don’t give power over yourself while you live,
and don’t give your goods to another,
lest you regret it and must ask for them.
21 While you still live and breath is in you,
don’t give yourself over to anybody.
22 For it is better that your children should ask from you
than that you should look to the hand of your children.
23 Excel in all your works.
Don’t bring a stain on your honour.
24 In the day that you end the days of your life,
in the time of death, distribute your inheritance.
25 Fodder, a stick, and burdens are for a donkey.
Bread, discipline, and work are for a servant.
26 Set your slave to work, and you will find rest.
Leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty.
27 Yoke and whip will bow the neck.
For an evil slave there are racks and tortures.
28 Send him to labour, that he not be idle,
for idleness teaches much mischief.
29 Set him to work, as is fit for him.
If he doesn’t obey, make his fetters heavy.
30 Don’t be excessive towards any.
Do nothing unjust.
31 If you have a slave, treat him like yourself,
because you have bought him with blood.
32 If you have a slave, treat him like yourself.
For like your own soul, you will need him.
If you treat him ill, and he departs and runs away,
33 which way will you go to seek him?
34
1 Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding.
Dreams give wings to fools.
2 As one who grasps at a shadow and follows after the wind,
so is he who sets his mind on dreams.
3 The vision of dreams is a reflection,
the likeness of a face near a face.
4 From an unclean thing what can be cleansed?
From that which is false what can be true?
5 Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain.
The heart has fantasies like a woman in labour.
6 If they are not sent in a visitation from the Most High,
don’t give your heart to them.
7 For dreams have led many astray.
They have failed by putting their hope in them.
8 Without lying the law will be fulfilled.
Wisdom is complete in a faithful mouth.
9 A well-instructed man knows many things.
He who has much experience will declare understanding.
10 He who has no experience knows few things.
But he who has travelled increases cleverness.
11 I have seen many things in my travels.
My understanding is more than my words.
12 I was often in danger even to death.
I was preserved because of these experiences.
13 The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live,
for their hope is in him who saves them.
14 Whoever fears the Lord won’t be afraid, and won’t be a coward,
for he is his hope.
15 Blessed is the soul of him who fears the Lord.
To whom does he give heed? Who is his support?
16 The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him,
a mighty protection and strong support,
a cover from the hot blast, a shade from the noonday sun,
a guard from stumbling, and a help from falling.
17 He raises up the soul, and enlightens the eyes.
He gives health, life, and blessing.
18 He who sacrifices a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is made in mockery.
The mockeries of wicked men are not acceptable.
19 The Most High has no pleasure in the offerings of the ungodly,
Neither is he pacified for sins by the multitude of sacrifices.
20 Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyes
is he who brings a sacrifice from the goods of the poor.
21 The bread of the needy is the life of the poor.
He who deprives him of it is a man of blood.
22 Like one who murders his neighbour is he who takes away his living.
Like a shedder of blood is he who deprives a hireling of his hire.
23 When one builds, and another pulls down,
what profit do they have but toil?
24 When one prays, and another curses,
whose voice will the Lord listen to?
25 He who washes himself after touching a dead body, and touches it again,
what does he gain by his washing?
26 Even so a man fasting for his sins,
and going again, and doing the same,
who will listen to his prayer?
What profit does he have in his humiliation?
35
1 He who keeps the law multiplies offerings.
He who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
2 He who returns a kindness offers fine flour.
He who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.
3 To depart from wickedness pleases the Lord.
To depart from unrighteousness is an atoning sacrifice.
4 See that you don’t appear in the presence of the Lord empty.
5 For all these things are done because of the commandment.
6 The offering of the righteous enriches the altar.
The sweet fragrance of it is before the Most High.
7 The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable.
It won’t be forgotten.
8 Glorify the Lord with generosity.
Don’t reduce the first fruits of your hands.
9 In every gift show a cheerful countenance,
And dedicate your tithe with gladness.
10 Give to the Most High according as he has given.
As your hand has found, give generously.
11 For the Lord repays,
and he will repay you sevenfold.
12 Don’t plan to bribe him with gifts, for he will not receive them.
Don’t set your mind on an unrighteous sacrifice,
For the Lord is the judge,
and with him is no respect of persons.
13 He won’t accept any person against a poor man.
He will listen to the prayer of him who is wronged.
14 He will in no way despise the supplication of the fatherless
or the widow, when she pours out her tale.
15 Don’t the tears of the widow run down her cheek?
Isn’t her cry against him who has caused them to fall?
16 He who serves God according to his good pleasure will be accepted.
His supplication will reach to the clouds.
17 The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds.
until it comes near, he will not be comforted.
He won’t depart until the Most High visits
and he judges righteously and executes judgement.
18 And the Lord will not be slack, neither will he be patient towards them,
until he has crushed the loins of the unmerciful.
He will repay vengeance to the heathen
until he has taken away the multitude of the arrogant
and broken in pieces the sceptres of the unrighteous,
19 until he has rendered to every man according to his deeds,
and repaid the works of men according to their plans,
until he has judged the cause of his people,
and he will make them rejoice in his mercy.
20 Mercy is as welcome in the time of his affliction,
as clouds of rain in the time of drought.
36
1 Have mercy upon us, O Lord the God of all, and look at us with favour;
2 and send your fear upon all the nations.†
3 Lift up your hand against the foreign nations
and let them see your mighty power.
4 As you showed your holiness in us before them,
so be magnified in them before us.
5 Let them know you, as we also have known you,
that there is no God but only you, O God.
6 Show new signs, and work various wonders.
Glorify your hand and your right arm.‡
7 Raise up indignation and pour out wrath.
Take away the adversary and destroy the enemy.
8 Hasten the time and remember your oath.
Let them declare your mighty works.
9 Let him who escapes be devoured by raging fire.
May those who harm your people find destruction.
10 Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemies
who say, “There is no one but ourselves.”
11 Gather all the tribes of Jacob together,
and§ take them for your inheritance, as from the beginning.
12 O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by your name,
and upon Israel, whom you likened to a firstborn.
13 Have compassion upon the city of your sanctuary,
Jerusalem, the place of your rest.
14 Fill Zion. Exalt your oracles
and fill your people with your glory.
15 Give testimony to those who were your creatures in the beginning,
and fulfil the prophecies that have been spoken in your name.
16 Reward those who wait for you,
and men will put their trust in your prophets.
17 Listen, O Lord, to the prayer of your servants,
according to the blessing of Aaron concerning your people;
and all those who are on the earth will know
that you are the Lord, the† eternal God.
18 The belly will eat any food,
but one food is better than another.
19 The mouth tastes meats taken in hunting,
so does an understanding heart detect false speech.
20 A contrary heart will cause heaviness.
A man of experience will pay him back.
21 A woman will receive any man,
but one daughter is better than another.
22 The beauty of
