Sirach 34

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools.	1 The hopes of a senseless man are empty and false; and dreams extol the imprudent.
2 As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is he who gives heed to dreams.	2 Like one who chases a shadow and pursues the wind, so also is one who pays attention to lying visions.
3 The vision of dreams is this against that, the likeness of a face confronting a face.	3 In the vision of dreams, one thing represents another, as when a mask is before the face of a man.
4 From an unclean thing what will be made clean? And from something false what will be true?	4 What can be cleansed by the unclean? And what truth can be spoken from a lie?
5 Divinations and omens and dreams are folly, and like a woman in travail the mind has fancies.	5 Erroneous divinations and false signs and the dreams of evildoers are emptiness.
6 Unless they are sent from the Most High as a visitation, do not give your mind to them.	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 deceived many, and those who put their hope in them have failed.	7 For dreams have caused many to go astray, and those who have hoped in them have fallen away.
8 Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom is made perfect in truthful lips.	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 An educated man knows many things, and one with much experience will speak with understanding.	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 He that is inexperienced knows few things, but he that has traveled acquires much cleverness.	10 He who has no experience knows little. And he who has done many things has made many mistakes.
11 I have seen many things in my travels, and I understand more than I can express.	11 He who has not been tested, what kind of things can he know? He who has been deceived will be more cunning.
12 I have often been in danger of death, but have escaped because of these experiences.	12 I have seen much by wandering, and the customs of many things.
13 The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is in him who saves them.	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 will not be timid, nor play the coward, for he is his hope.	14 The spirit of those who fear God is sought, and they will be blessed by his providence.
15 Blessed is the soul of the man who fears the Lord! To whom does he look? 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, 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.	16 Those who fear the Lord will tremble at nothing, and they will not be terrified. For he is their hope.
17 He lifts up the soul and gives light to the eyes; he grants healing, life, and blessing.	17 The soul of him who fears the Lord is blessed.
18 If one sacrifices from what has been wrongfully obtained, the offering is blemished; the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable.	18 To whom should he look, and who is his strength?
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.	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 one who kills a son before his father's eyes is the man who offers a sacrifice from the property 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 the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of 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 To take away a neighbor's living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood.	22 The Lord is only for those who persevere for him in the way of truth and justice.
23 When one builds and another tears down, what do they gain but toil?	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 When one prays and another curses, to whose voice will the Lord listen?	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 washes after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what has he gained by his washing?	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 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?	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?