Sirach 34

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Empty and false are the hopes of the senseless, and fools are borne aloft by dreams.	1 The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.
2 Like a man who catches at shadows or chases the wind, is the one who believes in dreams.	2 The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
3 What is seen in dreams is to reality what the reflection of a face is to the face itself.	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.
4 Can the unclean produce the clean? can the liar ever speak the truth?	4 What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?
5 Divination, omens and dreams all are unreal; what you already expect, the mind depicts.	5 Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:
6 Unless it be a vision specially sent by the Most High, fix not your heart on it;	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.
7 For dreams have led many astray, and those who believed in them have perished.	7 For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.
8 The law is fulfilled without fail, and perfect wisdom is found in the mouth of the faithful man.	8 The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.
9 A man with training gains wide knowledge; a man of experience speaks sense.	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.
10 One never put to the proof knows little, whereas with travel a man adds to his resourcefulness.	10 He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.
11 I have seen much in my travels, learned more than ever I could say.	11 He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.
12 Often I was in danger of death, but by these attainments I was saved.	12 I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.
13 Lively is the courage of those who fear the LORD, for they put their hope in their savior;	13 Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God.
14 He who fears the LORD is never alarmed, never afraid; for the LORD is his hope.	14 The spirit of those that fear God; is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.
15 Happy the soul that fears the LORD! In whom does he trust, and who is his support?	15 For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him.
16 The eyes of the LORD are upon those who love him; he is their mighty shield and strong support, A shelter from the heat, a shade from the noonday sun, a guard against stumbling, a help against falling.	16 He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid for he is his hope.
17 He buoys up the spirits, brings a sparkle to the eyes, gives health and life and blessing.	17 The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.
18 Tainted his gifts who offers in sacrifice ill-gotten goods! Mock presents from the lawless win not God's favor.	18 To whom doth he look, and who in his strength?
19 The Most High approves not the gifts of the godless, nor for their many sacrifices does he forgive their sins.	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,
20 Like the man who slays a son in his father's presence is he who offers sacrifice from the possessions of the poor.	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.
21 The bread of charity is life itself for the needy; he who withholds it is a man of blood.	21 The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.
22 He slays his neighbor who deprives him of his living: he sheds blood who denies the laborer his wages.	22 The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.
23 If one man builds up and another tears down, what do they gain but trouble?	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.
24 If one man prays and another curses, whose voice will the LORD hear?	24 He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.
25 If a man again touches a corpse after he has bathed, what did he gain by the purification?	25 The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.
26 So with a man who fasts for his sins, but then goes and commits them again: Who will hear his prayer, and what has he gained by his mortification?	26 He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.
	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?