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The Book of Jesus Sirach

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- Chapter 34 -

The vanity of dreams. The advantage of experience, and of the fear of God.

1
The hopes of a senseless man are empty and false; and dreams extol the imprudent.
2
Like one who chases a shadow and pursues the wind, so also is one who pays attention to lying visions.
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 cleansed by the unclean? And what truth can be spoken from a lie?
5
Erroneous divinations and false signs and the dreams of evildoers are emptiness.
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 caused many to go astray, and those who have hoped in them have fallen away.
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
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 who has no experience knows little. And he who has done many things has made many mistakes.(a)
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 much by wandering, and the customs of many things.
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 who fear God is sought, and they will be blessed by his providence.
15
For their hope is in him who saves them, and the eyes of God are on those who love him.
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 who fears the Lord is blessed.
18
To whom should he look, and who is his strength?
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 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
An immolation from iniquity is a stained oblation, and the derisions of the unjust are not well pleasing.
22
The Lord is only for those who persevere for him in the way of truth and justice.
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
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 indigent is the life of the poor. Whoever cheats them out of it is a man of blood.
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?

Footnotes

(a)34:10 In the context of a passage extolling the benefits of experience, the word ‘malitiam’ refers to faults, not to wickedness. Experience brings wisdom, but who can be free from fault who has much experience?(Conte)

The vanity of dreams. The advantage of experience, and of the fear of God.

1
Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding. Dreams give wings to fools.
2
As one who grasps at a shadow and follows after the wind, so is he who sets his mind on dreams.
3
The vision of dreams is a reflection, the likeness of a face near a face.
4
From an unclean thing what can be cleansed? From that which is false what can be true?
5
Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain. The heart has fantasies like a woman in labor.
6
If they are not sent in a visitation from the Most High, don’t give your heart to them.
7
For dreams have led many astray. They have failed by putting their hope in them.
8
Without lying the law will be fulfilled. Wisdom is complete in a faithful mouth.
9
A well-instructed man knows many things. He who has much experience will declare understanding.
10
He who has no experience knows few things. But he who has traveled increases cleverness.
11
I have seen many things in my travels. My understanding is more than my words.
12
I was often in danger even to death. I was preserved because of these experiences.
13
The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is in him who saves them.
14
Whoever fears the Lord won’t be afraid, and won’t be a coward, for he is his hope.
15
Blessed is the soul of him who fears the Lord. To whom does he give heed? Who is his support?
16
The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him, a mighty protection and strong support, a cover from the hot blast, a shade from the noonday sun, a guard from stumbling, and a help from falling.
17
He raises up the soul, and enlightens the eyes. He gives health, life, and blessing.
18
He who sacrifices a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is made in mockery. The mockeries of wicked men are not acceptable.
19
The Most High has no pleasure in the offerings of the ungodly, Neither is he pacified for sins by the multitude of sacrifices.
20
Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyes is he who brings a sacrifice from the goods of the poor.
21
The bread of the needy is the life of the poor. He who deprives him of it is a man of blood.
22
Like one who murders his neighbor is he who takes away his living. Like a shedder of blood is he who deprives a hireling of his hire.
23
When one builds, and another pulls down, what profit do they have but toil?
24
When one prays, and another curses, whose voice will the Lord listen to?
25
He who washes himself after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what does he gain by his washing?
26
Even so a man fasting for his sins, and going again, and doing the same, who will listen to his prayer? What profit does he have in his humiliation?
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