Sirach 34

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.	1 The hopes of a senseless man are empty and false; and dreams extol the imprudent.
2 The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.	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 the resemblance of one thing to another: as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man.	3 In the vision of dreams, one thing represents another, as when a mask is before the face of a man.
4 What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?	4 What can be cleansed by the unclean? And what truth can be spoken from a lie?
5 Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:	5 Erroneous divinations and false signs and the dreams of evildoers are emptiness.
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 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 they have failed that put their trust in them.	7 For dreams have caused many to go astray, and those who have hoped in them have fallen away.
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 The word of the law will be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom will be made plain in the mouths of the faithful.
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 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 hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.	10 He who has no experience knows little. And he who has done many things has made many mistakes.
11 He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.	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 seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.	12 I have seen much by wandering, and the customs of many things.
13 Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God.	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 The spirit of those that fear God; is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.	14 The spirit of those who fear God is sought, and they will be blessed by his providence.
15 For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him.	15 For their hope is in him who saves them, and the eyes of God are on those who love him.
16 He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid for he is his hope.	16 Those who fear the Lord will tremble at nothing, and they will not be terrified. For he is their hope.
17 The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.	17 The soul of him who fears the Lord is blessed.
18 To whom doth he look, and who in his strength?	18 To whom should he look, and who is his strength?
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 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 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 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 offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.	21 An immolation from iniquity is a stained oblation, and the derisions of the unjust are not well pleasing.
22 The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.	22 The Lord is only for those who persevere for him in the way of truth and justice.
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 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 He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.	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 The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.	25 The bread of the indigent is the life of the poor. Whoever cheats them out of it is a man of blood.
26 He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.	26 Whoever takes away the bread of sweat is like one who kills his neighbor.
27 He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, are brothers.	27 He who sheds blood, and he who cheats the hired hand out of his wages, are brothers.
28 When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour?	28 When one builds and another destroys, what benefit do they have from their labor?
29 When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear?	29 When one prays and another curses, whose voice will God heed?
30 He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail?	30 He who washes himself after touching the dead, and then touches him again, what was the benefit of his washing?
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?	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?