Jesus Sirach 34

1The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.

2The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.

3The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: as when a man’s likeness is before the face of a man.

4What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?

5Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:

6And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it be a vision sent forth from the most High, set no thy heart upon them.

7For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.

8The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.

9What 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.

10He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.

11He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.

12I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.

13Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God.

14The spirit of those that fear God; is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.

15For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him.

16He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid for he is his hope.

17The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.

18To whom doth he look, and who in his strength?

19The 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,

20A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling; he raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and life, and blessing.

21The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.

22The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.

23The 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.

24He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.

25The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.

26He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.

27He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, are brothers.

28When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour?

29When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear?

30He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail?

31So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again, what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer?

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

2Quasi qui apprehendit umbram et persequitur ventum, sic et qui attendit ad visa mendacia.

3Hoc secundum hoc visio somniorum, ante faciem hominis similitudo hominis.

4Ab immundo, quid mundabitur? et a mendace, quid verum dicetur?

5Divinatio erroris, et auguria mendacia, et somnia malefacientium, vanitas est:

6et sicut parturientis, cor tuum phantasias patitur. Nisi ab Altissimo fuerit emissa visitatio, ne dederis in illis cor tuum:

7multos enim errare fecerunt somnia, et exciderunt sperantes in illis.

8Sine mendacio consummabitur verbum legis, et sapientia in ore fidelis complanabitur.]

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

10Qui non est expertus pauca recognoscit: qui autem in multis factus est, multiplicat malitiam.

11Qui tentatus non est qualia scit? qui implanatus est abundabit nequitia.

12Multa vidi errando, et plurimas verborum consuetudines.

13Aliquoties usque ad mortem periclitatus sum horum causa, et liberatus sum gratia Dei.]

14[Spiritus timentium Deum quæritur, et in respectu illius benedicetur.

15Spes enim illorum in salvantem illos, et oculi Dei in diligentes se.

16Qui timet Dominum nihil trepidabit: et non pavebit, quoniam ipse est spes ejus.

17Timentis Dominum, beata est anima ejus.

18Ad quem respicit, et quis est fortitudo ejus?

19Oculi Domini super timentes eum: protector potentiæ, firmamentum virtutis, tegimen ardoris, et umbraculum meridiani:

20deprecatio offensionis, et adjutorium casus: exaltans animam, et illuminans oculos, dans sanitatem, et vitam, et benedictionem.]

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

22Dominus solus sustinentibus se in via veritatis et justitiæ.

23Dona iniquorum non probat Altissimus, nec respicit in oblationes iniquorum, nec in multitudine sacrificiorum eorum propitiabitur peccatis.

24Qui offert sacrificium ex substantia pauperum, quasi qui victimat filium in conspectu patris sui.

25Panis egentium vita pauperum est: qui defraudat illum homo sanguinis est.

26Qui aufert in sudore panem, quasi qui occidit proximum suum.

27Qui effundit sanguinem, et qui fraudem facit mercenario, fratres sunt.

28Unus ædificans, et unus destruens: quid prodest illis, nisi labor?

29Unus orans, et unus maledicens: cujus vocem exaudiet Deus?

30Qui baptizatur a mortuo, et iterum tangit eum, quid proficit lavatio illius?

31Sic homo qui jejunat in peccatis suis, et iterum eadem faciens: quid proficit humiliando se? orationem illius quis exaudiet?]

1The hopes of a senseless man are empty and false; and dreams extol the imprudent.

2Like one who chases a shadow and pursues the wind, so also is one who pays attention to lying visions.

3In the vision of dreams, one thing represents another, as when a mask is before the face of a man.

4What can be cleansed by the unclean? And what truth can be spoken from a lie?

5Erroneous divinations and false signs and the dreams of evildoers are emptiness.

6For your heart suffers from imagination, like a woman suffering in childbirth. Unless it is a visitation sent from the Most High, you should not set your heart upon it.

7For dreams have caused many to go astray, and those who have hoped in them have fallen away.

8The word of the law will be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom will be made plain in the mouths of the faithful.

9He who has not been tested, what does he know? A man with much experience will consider many things. And whoever has learned much will explain with understanding.

10He who has no experience knows little. And he who has done many things has made many mistakes.

11He who has not been tested, what kind of things can he know? He who has been deceived will be more cunning.

12I have seen much by wandering, and the customs of many things.

13At times, I have even been in danger of death because of these things, but I was freed by the grace of God.

14The spirit of those who fear God is sought, and they will be blessed by his providence.

15For their hope is in him who saves them, and the eyes of God are on those who love him.

16Those who fear the Lord will tremble at nothing, and they will not be terrified. For he is their hope.

17The soul of him who fears the Lord is blessed.

18To whom should he look, and who is his strength?

19The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him. He is a powerful Protector, a Firmament of virtue, a Shelter from the heat, and a Covering from the midday sun,

20a Guardian from offenses, and a Helper from falling, who exalts the soul and illuminates the eyes, and who gives health and life and blessing.

21An immolation from iniquity is a stained oblation, and the derisions of the unjust are not well pleasing.

22The Lord is only for those who persevere for him in the way of truth and justice.

23The Most High does not approve of the gifts of the iniquitous. Neither does he have respect for the oblations of the unjust; neither will he forgive their sins because of the multitude of their sacrifices.

24Whoever offers a sacrifice from the substance of the poor is like one who sacrifices the son in the sight of his father.

25The bread of the indigent is the life of the poor. Whoever cheats them out of it is a man of blood.

26Whoever takes away the bread of sweat is like one who kills his neighbor.

27He who sheds blood, and he who cheats the hired hand out of his wages, are brothers.

28When one builds and another destroys, what benefit do they have from their labor?

29When one prays and another curses, whose voice will God heed?

30He who washes himself after touching the dead, and then touches him again, what was the benefit of his washing?

31Similarly, a man who fasts for his sins, and then does the same again, what was the benefit of his humbling himself? Who will heed his prayer?