The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.

Vana spes et mendacium viro insensato: et somnia extollunt imprudentes.

Fools are cheated by vain hopes, buoyed up with the fancies of a dream.

The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.

Quasi qui apprehendit umbram et persequitur ventum, sic et qui attendit ad visa mendacia.

Wouldst thou heed such lying visions? Better clutch at shadows, or chase the wind.

The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: as when a man’s likeness is before the face of a man.

Hoc secundum hoc visio somniorum, ante faciem hominis similitudo hominis.

Nought thou seest in a dream but symbols; man is but face to face with his own image.

What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?

Ab immundo, quid mundabitur? et a mendace, quid verum dicetur?

As well may foul thing cleanse, as false thing give thee a true warning.

Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:

Divinatio erroris, et auguria mendacia, et somnia malefacientium, vanitas est:

Out upon the folly of them, pretended divination, and cheating omen, and wizard’s dream!

And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it be a vision sent forth from the most High, set not thy heart upon them.

et sicut parturientis, cor tuum phantasias patitur. Nisi ab Altissimo fuerit emissa visitatio, ne dederis in illis cor tuum:

Heart of woman in her pangs is not more fanciful. Unless it be some manifestation the most High has sent thee, pay no heed to any such;

For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.

multos enim errare fecerunt somnia, et exciderunt sperantes in illis.

trust in dreams has crazed the wits of many, and brought them to their ruin.

The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.

Sine mendacio consummabitur verbum legis, et sapientia in ore fidelis complanabitur.

Believe rather the law’s promises, that cannot miss their fulfilment, the wisdom that trusty counsellors shall make clear to thee.

What doth he know, that hath not been tried? A man that hath much experience, shall think of many things: and he that hath learned many things, shall shew forth understanding.

Qui non est tentatus quid scit? vir in multis expertus cogitabit multa: et qui multa didicit enarrabit intellectum.

A man will not learn until he is tested by discipline. That experience gained, he will think deeply, and the many lessons he has learned will make him a wise talker.

He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.

Qui non est expertus pauca recognoscit: qui autem in multis factus est, multiplicat malitiam.

Without experience, a man knows little; yet, if he is too venturesome, he reaps a rich harvest of mischief …

He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.

Qui tentatus non est qualia scit? qui implanatus est abundabit nequitia.

A man will not learn until he is tested by discipline … and if he is led astray he will be full of knavery …

I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.

Multa vidi errando, et plurimas verborum consuetudines.

I myself have seen much in my wanderings, the customs of men more than I can tell.

Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God.

Aliquoties usque ad mortem periclitatus sum horum causa, et liberatus sum gratia Dei.

Sometimes, by this means, I have been in danger of death, and only the divine favour has preserved me from it.

The spirit of those that fear God, is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.

Spiritus timentium Deum quæritur, et in respectu illius benedicetur.

The life of such as fear the Lord is held precious, and wins a blessing from his regard;

For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him.

Spes enim illorum in salvantem illos, et oculi Dei in diligentes se.

they have a deliverer they can trust in, and God’s eye watches over them in return for their love.

He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid: for he is his hope.

Qui timet Dominum nihil trepidabit: et non pavebit, quoniam ipse est spes ejus.

Fear the Lord, and thou shalt never hesitate; nothing may daunt thee, while such a hope is thine.

The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.

Timentis Dominum, beata est anima ejus.

Blessed souls, that fear the Lord!

To whom doth he look, and who is his strength?

Ad quem respicit, et quis est fortitudo ejus?

They know where to look for refuge.

The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, he is their powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from the heat, and a cover from the sun at noon,

Oculi Domini super timentes eum: protector potentiæ, firmamentum virtutis, tegimen ardoris, et umbraculum meridiani:

Fear the Lord, and his eyes watch over thee; here is strong protection, here is firm support; shelter when the hot wind blows, shade at noon-day;

A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling; he raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and life, and blessing.

deprecatio offensionis, et adjutorium casus: exaltans animam, et illuminans oculos, dans sanitatem, et vitam, et benedictionem.

here is reassurance when a man stumbles, support when he falls; soul uplifted, eyes enlightened, health and life and blessing bestowed.

The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.

Immolantis ex iniquo oblatio est maculata, et non sunt beneplacitæ subsannationes injustorum.

Tainted is every sacrifice that comes of goods ill gotten; a mockery, this, of sacrifice, that shall win no favour.

The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.

Dominus solus sustinentibus se in via veritatis et justitiæ.

For those who wait upon him in loyal duty, the Lord alone is God.

The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked: neither hath he respect to the oblations of the unjust, nor will he be pacified for sins by the multitude of their sacrifices.

Dona iniquorum non probat Altissimus, nec respicit in oblationes iniquorum, nec in multitudine sacrificiorum eorum propitiabitur peccatis.

Should the most High accept the offerings of sinners, take the gifts of the wrong-doer into his reckoning, and pardon their sins because their sacrifices are many?

He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.

Qui offert sacrificium ex substantia pauperum, quasi qui victimat filium in conspectu patris sui.

Who robs the poor and then brings sacrifice, is of their fellowship that would immolate some innocent child before the eyes of his father.

The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.

Panis egentium vita pauperum est: qui defraudat illum homo sanguinis est.

Poor man’s bread is poor man’s life; cheat him of it, and thou hast slain him;

He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.

Qui aufert in sudore panem, quasi qui occidit proximum suum.

sweat of his brow, or his life’s blood, what matters?

He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the laborer of his hire, are brothers.

Qui effundit sanguinem, et qui fraudem facit mercenario, fratres sunt.

Disappoint the hireling, and thou art own brother to a murderer.

When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour?

Unus ædificans, et unus destruens: quid prodest illis, nisi labor?

Build while another pulls down, and toil is its own reward.

When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear?

Unus orans, et unus maledicens: cujus vocem exaudiet Deus?

Pray while another curses, and which of you shall find audience with God?

He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail?

Qui baptizatur a mortuo, et iterum tangit eum, quid proficit lavatio illius?

Cleanse thyself from dead body’s contamination, and touch it again, what avails thy cleansing?

So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again, what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer?

Sic homo qui jejunat in peccatis suis, et iterum eadem faciens: quid proficit humiliando se? orationem illius quis exaudiet?

So it is when a man fasts for his sins, yet will not leave his sinning; vain is the fast, the prayer goes unanswered.