Sirach 34

DOUAI-RHEIMS	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.	1 A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes, and dreams give 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 one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is he who gives heed to 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 The vision of dreams is this against that, the likeness of a face confronting a face.
4 What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?	4 From an unclean thing what will be made clean? And from something false what will be true?
5 Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:	5 Divinations and omens and dreams are folly, and like a woman in travail the mind has fancies.
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 they are sent from the Most High as a visitation, do not give your mind to them.
7 For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.	7 For dreams have deceived many, and those who put their hope in them have failed.
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 Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom is made perfect in truthful lips.
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 An educated man knows many things, and one with much experience will speak with understanding.
10 He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.	10 He that is inexperienced knows few things, but he that has traveled acquires much cleverness.
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 in my travels, and I understand more than I can express.
12 I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.	12 I have often been in danger of death, but have escaped because of these experiences.
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 will live, for their hope is in him who saves them.
14 The spirit of those that fear God; is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.	14 He who fears the Lord will not be timid, nor play the coward, for he 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 Blessed is the soul of the man who fears the Lord! To whom does he look? And who is his support?
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 are upon those who love him, a mighty protection and strong support, a shelter from the hot wind and a shade from noonday sun, a guard against stumbling and a defense against falling.
17 The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.	17 He lifts up the soul and gives light to the eyes; he grants healing, life, and blessing.
18 To whom doth he look, and who in his strength?	18 If one sacrifices from what has been wrongfully obtained, the offering is blemished; the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable.
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 is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly; and he is not propitiated for sins by a multitude of sacrifices.
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 Like one who kills a son before his father's eyes is the man who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor.
21 The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.	21 The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it is a man of blood.
22 The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.	22 To take away a neighbor's living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood.
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 When one builds and another tears down, what do they gain but toil?
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 When one prays and another curses, to whose voice will the Lord 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 a man washes after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what has he gained by his washing?
26 He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.	26 So if a man fasts for his sins, and goes again and does the same things, who will listen to his prayer? And what has he gained by humbling himself?
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?