The World

167. Do not follow the evil law! Do not live on in thoughtlessness! Do not follow false doctrine! Be not a friend of the world.

167. Do not follow an evil path! Do not live carelessly! Do not follow false teachings! Do not be a friend of the world.

168. Rouse thyself! do not be idle! Follow the law of virtue! The virtuous rests in bliss in this world and in the next.

168. Rouse yourself! Do not be idle! Follow the path of virtue! The virtuous rest in bliss in this world and in the next.

169. Follow the law of virtue; do not follow that of sin. The virtuous rests in bliss in this world and in the next.

169. Follow the path of virtue. Do not follow the path of sin. The virtuous live in bliss in this world and the next.

170. Look upon the world as a bubble, look upon it as a mirage: the king of death does not see him who thus looks down upon the world.

170. See the world as a bubble. See the world as a mirage. The king of death does not see anyone who views the world this way.

171. Come, look at this glittering world, like unto a royal chariot; the foolish are immersed in it, but the wise do not touch it.

171. Come, look at this glittering world, like a royal chariot. The foolish are immersed in the world, but the wise do not touch it.

172. He who formerly was reckless and afterwards became sober, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds.

172. Someone who was once reckless but later became mindful brightens this world, like the moon emerging from clouds.

173. He whose evil deeds are covered by good deeds, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds.

173. Anyone whose good deeds cover their evil deeds brightens this world, like the moon freed from clouds.

174. This world is dark, few only can see here; a few only go to heaven, like birds escaped from the net.

174. This world is dark. Only a few can see here. Only a few go to heaven, like birds that have escaped from a net.

175. The swans go on the path of the sun, they go through the ether by means of their miraculous power; the wise are led out of this world, when they have conquered Mara and his train.

175. The swans follow the sun’s path. The swans fly through the sky by their miraculous power. The wise are led out of this world when they have conquered Mara and his followers.

176. If a man has transgressed one law, and speaks lies, and scoffs at another world, there is no evil he will not do.

176. If a man has broken one law, tells lies, and mocks another world, no evil is beyond him.

177. The uncharitable do not go to the world of the gods; fools only do not praise liberality; a wise man rejoices in liberality, and through it becomes blessed in the other world.

177. Those who do not give to others do not go to the world of the gods. Only fools fail to praise generosity. A wise man takes joy in generosity, and through generosity he becomes blessed in the next world.

178. Better than sovereignty over the earth, better than going to heaven, better than lordship over all worlds, is the reward of the first step in holiness.

178. The reward of the first step toward holiness is better than ruling the earth. It is better than going to heaven and better than ruling all worlds.