Home Master Index
←Prev   Sirach 34 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


34:1  The senseless have vain and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools.
34:2  As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is anyone who believes in dreams.
34:3  What is seen in dreams is but a reflection, the likeness of a face looking at itself.
34:4  From an unclean thing what can be clean? And from something false what can be true?
34:5  Divinations and omens and dreams are unreal, and like a woman in labor, the mind has fantasies.
34:6  Unless they are sent by intervention from the Most High, pay no attention to them.
34:7  For dreams have deceived many, and those who put their hope in them have perished.
34:8  Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom is complete in the mouth of the faithful.
34:9  An educated person knows many things, and one with much experience knows what he is talking about.
34:10  An inexperienced person knows few things,
34:11  but he that has traveled acquires much cleverness.
34:12  I have seen many things in my travels, and I understand more than I can express.
34:13  I have often been in danger of death, but have escaped because of these experiences.
34:14  The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live,
34:15  for their hope is in him who saves them.
34:16  Those who fear the Lord will not be timid, or play the coward, for he is their hope.
34:17  Happy is the soul that fears the Lord!
34:18  To whom does he look? And who is his support?
34:19  The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him, a mighty shield and strong support, a shelter from scorching wind and a shade from noonday sun, a guard against stumbling and a help against falling.
34:20  He lifts up the soul and makes the eyes sparkle; he gives health and life and blessing.
34:21  If one sacrifices ill-gotten goods, the offering is blemished;
34:22  the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable.
34:23  The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly, nor for a multitude of sacrifices does he forgive sins.
34:24  Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyes is the person who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor.
34:25  The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it is a murderer.
34:26  To take away a neighbor’s living is to commit murder;
34:27  to deprive an employee of wages is to shed blood.
34:28  When one builds and another tears down, what do they gain but hard work?
34:29  When one prays and another curses, to whose voice will the Lord listen?
34:30  If one washes after touching a corpse, and touches it again, what has been gained by washing?
34:31  So if one 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?