Sirach 34

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Vain and deceptive hopes are for the foolish, and dreams lend wings to fools.	1 Empty and false are the hopes of the senseless, and fools are borne aloft by dreams.
2 As wel clutch at shadows and chase the wind as put any faith in dreams.	2 Like a man who catches at shadows or chases the wind, is the one who believes in dreams.
3 Dreams are no different from mirrors; confronting a face, the reflection of that face.	3 What is seen in dreams is to reality what the reflection of a face is to the face itself.
4 What can be cleansed by uncleanness, what can be verified by falsehood?	4 Can the unclean produce the clean? can the liar ever speak the truth?
5 Divinations, auguries and dreams are nonsense, like the fantasies of a pregnant woman.	5 Divination, omens and dreams all are unreal; what you already expect, the mind depicts.
6 Unless sent as emissaries from the Most High, do not give them a thought;	6 Unless it be a vision specially sent by the Most High, fix not your heart on it;
7 for dreams have led many astray, and those who relied on them have come to grief.	7 For dreams have led many astray, and those who believed in them have perished.
8 Fulfil ing the Law requires no such falsehood, and wisdom is perfected in veracity.	8 The law is fulfilled without fail, and perfect wisdom is found in the mouth of the faithful man.
9 A much travel ed man knows many things, and a man of great experience wil talk sound sense.	9 A man with training gains wide knowledge; a man of experience speaks sense.
10 Someone who has never had his trials knows little; but the travel ed man is master of every situation.	10 One never put to the proof knows little, whereas with travel a man adds to his resourcefulness.
11 I have seen many things on my travels, I have understood more than I can put into words.	11 I have seen much in my travels, learned more than ever I could say.
12 I have often been in danger of death, but I have been spared, and this is why:	12 Often I was in danger of death, but by these attainments I was saved.
13 the spirit of those who fear the Lord can survive, for their hope is in someone with power to save them.	13 Lively is the courage of those who fear the LORD, for they put their hope in their savior;
14 No one who fears the Lord need ever hesitate, or ever be daunted, since the Lord is his hope.	14 He who fears the LORD is never alarmed, never afraid; for the LORD is his hope.
15 Happy the soul of one who fears the Lord. On whom does he rely? Who supports him?	15 Happy the soul that fears the LORD! In whom does he trust, and who is his support?
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 .	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.
17 He revives the spirit and brightens the eyes, he gives health, life and blessing.	17 He buoys up the spirits, brings a sparkle to the eyes, gives health and life and blessing.
18 The sacrifice of an offering unjustly acquired is a mockery; the gifts of the impious are unacceptable.	18 Tainted his gifts who offers in sacrifice ill-gotten goods! Mock presents from the lawless win not God's favor.
19 The Most High takes no pleasure in offerings from the godless, multiplying sacrifices wil not gainpardon for sin.	19 The Most High approves not the gifts of the godless, nor for their many sacrifices does he forgive their sins.
20 Offering sacrifice from the property of the poor is as bad as slaughtering a son before his father'seyes.	20 Like the man who slays a son in his father's presence is he who offers sacrifice from the possessions of the poor.
21 A meagre diet is the very life of the poor, to deprive them of it is to commit murder.	21 The bread of charity is life itself for the needy; he who withholds it is a man of blood.
22 To take away a fel ow-man's livelihood is to kil him, to deprive an employee of his wages is to shedblood.	22 He slays his neighbor who deprives him of his living: he sheds blood who denies the laborer his wages.
23 If one person builds while another pul s down, what wil they get out of it but trouble?	23 If one man builds up and another tears down, what do they gain but trouble?
24 If one person prays and another cal s down a curse, to which one's voice is the Master going to listen?	24 If one man prays and another curses, whose voice will the LORD hear?
25 If someone washes after touching a corpse, and then touches it again, what is the good of hiswashing?	25 If a man again touches a corpse after he has bathed, what did he gain by the purification?
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?	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?