armour and shield will hide the breast, but [only] faith and action [can hide] the soul.
III. As it is possible to see the skill of the painter on a small tablet, so a small gift [sheweth] the greatness of the disposition of the soul.
IV. Have no confidence in the belief that that which is placed outside thy soul is thy possession.
V. Clothes and raiment drape statues, but habits and manners drape men.
VI. An evil word is the beginning of evil deeds.
VII. Speak thou according to what is right, and where it is right, and concerning the things which are right, and hearken not unto that which is not right.
VIII. It is better to shake a stone vainly than [to utter a vain] word, and it is better to be under subjection to the Barbarians than to evil passions.
IX. The excellence of a horse is made apparent in battle, and the disposition of a friend is put to the test in tribulation.
X. It is impossible to divide the sea, and it is also impossible to still the waves thereof, although for them it is always easy [to still themselves].
XI. The wise and God-fearing man is he who hateth that which is not right.
XII. The gentle and gracious man is he who treadeth pride under foot; but he who is set upon that which is the contrary of this is one who is governed by arrogance.
XIII. Constant prayer is the strength, and the armour, and the wall of the soul.
XIV. Wine maketh warm the body, and the word of God [warmeth] the soul.
XV. Know thou that not even much time will bring oblivion upon one act which thou wouldst hide.
XVI. The believing mind is a temple of God which it is meet for a man to adorn daily and to burn incense therein, inasmuch as it is God Who dwelleth there.
And numbers upon numbers of books at divers times and in various ways have they left unto the habitations of men, and some of them are according to the Mind which is above and Divine Grace, and were [written] for the edification and protection of those who wished to [follow] carefully after the faith and the doctrine of our Redeemer, and some of them are according to the adulation of the children of men, and the corrupt mind which is mad after the lusts of the body, [and some of them] are for the consolation of those who destroy vainglory; but others are from some vain madness and the
