Ecclesiasticus 34

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Vana spes et mendacium viro insensato : et somnia extollunt imprudentes.	1 Empty and false are the hopes of the senseless, and fools are borne aloft by dreams.
2 Quasi qui apprehendit umbram et persequitur ventum, sic et qui attendit ad visa mendacia.	2 Like a man who catches at shadows or chases the wind, is the one who believes in dreams.
3 Hoc secundum hoc visio somniorum, ante faciem hominis similitudo hominis.	3 What is seen in dreams is to reality what the reflection of a face is to the face itself.
4 Ab immundo, quid mundabitur ? et a mendace, quid verum dicetur ?	4 Can the unclean produce the clean? can the liar ever speak the truth?
5 Divinatio erroris, et auguria mendacia, et somnia malefacientium, vanitas est :	5 Divination, omens and dreams all are unreal; what you already expect, the mind depicts.
6 et sicut parturientis, cor tuum phantasias patitur. Nisi ab Altissimo fuerit emissa visitatio, ne dederis in illis cor tuum :	6 Unless it be a vision specially sent by the Most High, fix not your heart on it;
7 multos enim errare fecerunt somnia, et exciderunt sperantes in illis.	7 For dreams have led many astray, and those who believed in them have perished.
8 Sine mendacio consummabitur verbum legis, et sapientia in ore fidelis complanabitur.	8 The law is fulfilled without fail, and perfect wisdom is found in the mouth of the faithful man.
9 Qui non est tentatus quid scit ? vir in multis expertus cogitabit multa : et qui multa didicit enarrabit intellectum.	9 A man with training gains wide knowledge; a man of experience speaks sense.
10 Qui non est expertus pauca recognoscit : qui autem in multis factus est, multiplicat malitiam.	10 One never put to the proof knows little, whereas with travel a man adds to his resourcefulness.
11 Qui tentatus non est qualia scit ? qui implanatus est abundabit nequitia.	11 I have seen much in my travels, learned more than ever I could say.
12 Multa vidi errando, et plurimas verborum consuetudines.	12 Often I was in danger of death, but by these attainments I was saved.
13 Aliquoties usque ad mortem periclitatus sum horum causa, et liberatus sum gratia Dei.	13 Lively is the courage of those who fear the LORD, for they put their hope in their savior;
14 Spiritus timentium Deum quæritur, et in respectu illius benedicetur.	14 He who fears the LORD is never alarmed, never afraid; for the LORD is his hope.
15 Spes enim illorum in salvantem illos, et oculi Dei in diligentes se.	15 Happy the soul that fears the LORD! In whom does he trust, and who is his support?
16 Qui timet Dominum nihil trepidabit : et non pavebit, quoniam ipse est spes ejus.	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 Timentis Dominum, beata est anima ejus.	17 He buoys up the spirits, brings a sparkle to the eyes, gives health and life and blessing.
18 Ad quem respicit, et quis est fortitudo ejus ?	18 Tainted his gifts who offers in sacrifice ill-gotten goods! Mock presents from the lawless win not God's favor.
19 Oculi Domini super timentes eum : protector potentiæ, firmamentum virtutis, tegimen ardoris, et umbraculum meridiani :	19 The Most High approves not the gifts of the godless, nor for their many sacrifices does he forgive their sins.
20 deprecatio offensionis, et adjutorium casus : exaltans animam, et illuminans oculos, dans sanitatem, et vitam, et benedictionem.	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 Immolantis ex iniquo oblatio est maculata, et non sunt beneplacitæ subsannationes injustorum.	21 The bread of charity is life itself for the needy; he who withholds it is a man of blood.
22 Dominus solus sustinentibus se in via veritatis et justitiæ.	22 He slays his neighbor who deprives him of his living: he sheds blood who denies the laborer his wages.
23 Dona iniquorum non probat Altissimus, nec respicit in oblationes iniquorum, nec in multitudine sacrificiorum eorum propitiabitur peccatis.	23 If one man builds up and another tears down, what do they gain but trouble?
24 Qui offert sacrificium ex substantia pauperum, quasi qui victimat filium in conspectu patris sui.	24 If one man prays and another curses, whose voice will the LORD hear?
25 Panis egentium vita pauperum est : qui defraudat illum homo sanguinis est.	25 If a man again touches a corpse after he has bathed, what did he gain by the purification?
26 Qui aufert in sudore panem, quasi qui occidit proximum suum.	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?
27 Qui effundit sanguinem, et qui fraudem facit mercenario, fratres sunt.
28 Unus ædificans, et unus destruens : quid prodest illis, nisi labor ?
29 Unus orans, et unus maledicens : cujus vocem exaudiet Deus ?
30 Qui baptizatur a mortuo, et iterum tangit eum, quid proficit lavatio illius ?
31 Sic homo qui jejunat in peccatis suis, et iterum eadem faciens : quid proficit humiliando se ? orationem illius quis exaudiet ?