Sirach 34

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Empty and false are the hopes of the senseless, and fools are borne aloft by dreams.	1 The hopes of a senseless man are empty and false; and dreams extol the imprudent.
2 Like a man who catches at shadows or chases the wind, is the one who believes in dreams.	2 Like one who chases a shadow and pursues the wind, so also is one who pays attention to lying visions.
3 What is seen in dreams is to reality what the reflection of a face is to the face itself.	3 In the vision of dreams, one thing represents another, as when a mask 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 cleansed by the unclean? And what truth can be spoken from a lie?
5 Divination, omens and dreams all are unreal; what you already expect, the mind depicts.	5 Erroneous divinations and false signs and the dreams of evildoers are emptiness.
6 Unless it be a vision specially sent by the Most High, fix not your heart on it;	6 For 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.
7 For dreams have led many astray, and those who believed in them have perished.	7 For dreams have caused many to go astray, and those who have hoped in them have fallen away.
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 will be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom will be made plain in the mouths of the faithful.
9 A man with training gains wide knowledge; a man of experience speaks sense.	9 He 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.
10 One never put to the proof knows little, whereas with travel a man adds to his resourcefulness.	10 He who has no experience knows little. And he who has done many things has made many mistakes.
11 I have seen much in my travels, learned more than ever I could say.	11 He who has not been tested, what kind of things can he know? He who has been deceived will be more cunning.
12 Often I was in danger of death, but by these attainments I was saved.	12 I have seen much by wandering, and the customs of many things.
13 Lively is the courage of those who fear the LORD, for they put their hope in their savior;	13 At times, I have even been in danger of death because of these things, but I was freed 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 who fear God is sought, and they will be blessed by his providence.
15 Happy the soul that fears the LORD! In whom does he trust, and who is his support?	15 For their hope is in him who saves them, and the eyes of God are on those who 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 Those who fear the Lord will tremble at nothing, and they will not be terrified. For he is their hope.
17 He buoys up the spirits, brings a sparkle to the eyes, gives health and life and blessing.	17 The soul of him who fears 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 should he look, and who is 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 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,
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 Guardian from offenses, and a Helper from falling, who exalts the soul and illuminates the eyes, and who gives 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 An immolation from iniquity is a stained oblation, and the derisions of the unjust are not well pleasing.
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 those who persevere for 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 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.
24 If one man prays and another curses, whose voice will the LORD hear?	24 Whoever offers a sacrifice from the substance of the poor is like one who sacrifices the son in the sight 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 indigent is the life of the poor. Whoever cheats them out of it 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 Whoever takes away the bread of sweat is like one who kills his neighbor.
	27 He who sheds blood, and he who cheats the hired hand out of his wages, are brothers.
	28 When one builds and another destroys, what benefit do they have from their labor?
	29 When one prays and another curses, whose voice will God heed?
	30 He who washes himself after touching the dead, and then touches him again, what was the benefit of his washing?
	31 Similarly, 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?