Sirach 34

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.	1 Vain and deceptive hopes are for the foolish, and dreams lend wings to fools.
2 The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.	2 As wel clutch at shadows and chase the wind as put any faith in dreams.
3 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.	3 Dreams are no different from mirrors; confronting a face, the reflection of that face.
4 What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?	4 What can be cleansed by uncleanness, what can be verified by falsehood?
5 Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:	5 Divinations, auguries and dreams are nonsense, like the fantasies of a pregnant woman.
6 And 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.	6 Unless sent as emissaries from the Most High, do not give them a thought;
7 For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.	7 for dreams have led many astray, and those who relied on them have come to grief.
8 The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.	8 Fulfil ing the Law requires no such falsehood, and wisdom is perfected in veracity.
9 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.	9 A much travel ed man knows many things, and a man of great experience wil talk sound sense.
10 He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.	10 Someone who has never had his trials knows little; but the travel ed man is master of every situation.
11 He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.	11 I have seen many things on my travels, I have understood more than I can put into words.
12 I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.	12 I have often been in danger of death, but I have been spared, and this is why:
13 Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God.	13 the spirit of those who fear the Lord can survive, for their hope is in someone with power to save them.
14 The spirit of those that fear God; is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.	14 No one who fears the Lord need ever hesitate, or ever be daunted, since the Lord is his hope.
15 For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him.	15 Happy the soul of one who fears the Lord. On whom does he rely? Who supports him?
16 He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid for he is his hope.	16 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who love him, he is their powerful protection and their strongsupport, their screen from the desert wind, their shelter from the midday sun, a guard against stumbling, anassurance against a fal .
17 The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.	17 He revives the spirit and brightens the eyes, he gives health, life and blessing.
18 To whom doth he look, and who in his strength?	18 The sacrifice of an offering unjustly acquired is a mockery; the gifts of the impious are unacceptable.
19 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,	19 The Most High takes no pleasure in offerings from the godless, multiplying sacrifices wil not gainpardon for sin.
20 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.	20 Offering sacrifice from the property of the poor is as bad as slaughtering a son before his father'seyes.
21 The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.	21 A meagre diet is the very life of the poor, to deprive them of it is to commit murder.
22 The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.	22 To take away a fel ow-man's livelihood is to kil him, to deprive an employee of his wages is to shedblood.
23 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 sine by the multitude of their sacrifices.	23 If one person builds while another pul s down, what wil they get out of it but trouble?
24 He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.	24 If one person prays and another cal s down a curse, to which one's voice is the Master going to listen?
25 The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.	25 If someone washes after touching a corpse, and then touches it again, what is the good of hiswashing?
26 He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.	26 Just so with someone who fasts for sin, and then goes and commits it again. Who is going to hear thatperson's prayer? What is the good of the self-abasement?
27 He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, are brothers.
28 When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour?
29 When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear?
30 He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail?
31 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?