The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 34

¹ The hopes of a man void of understanding are vain and false and dreams lift up fools ⚑

² Whoso regardeth dreams is like him that catcheth at a shadow and followeth after the wind ⚑

³ The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another even as the likeness of a face to a face ⚑

⁴ Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed and from that thing which is false what truth can come ⚑

⁵ Divinations and soothsayings and dreams are vain and the heart fancieth as woman’s heart in travail ⚑

⁶ If they be not sent from the most High in thy visitation set not thy heart upon them ⚑

⁷ For dreams have deceived many and they have failed that put their trust in them ⚑

⁸ The law shall be found perfect without lies and wisdom is perfection to a faithful mouth ⚑

⁹ A man that hath travelled knoweth many things and he that hath much experience will declare wisdom ⚑

¹⁰ He that hath no experience knoweth little but he that hath travelled is full of prudence ⚑

¹¹ When I travelled I saw many things and I understand more than I can express ⚑

¹² I was ofttimes in danger of death yet I was delivered because of these things ⚑

¹³ The spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live for their hope is in him that saveth them ⚑

¹⁴ Whoso feareth the Lord shall not fear nor be afraid for he is his hope ⚑

¹⁵ Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the Lord to whom doth he look and who is his strength ⚑

¹⁶ For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him he is their mighty protection and strong stay a defence from heat and a cover from the sun at noon a preservation from stumbling and an help from falling ⚑

¹⁷ He raiseth up the soul and lighteneth the eyes he giveth health life and blessing ⚑

¹⁸ He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten his offering is ridiculous and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted ⚑

¹⁹ The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices ⚑

²⁰ Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor doeth as one that killeth the son before his ather’s eyes ⚑

²¹ The bread of the needy is their life he that defraudeth him thereof is a man of blood ⚑

²² He that taketh away his ne hbour’s living slayeth him and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire is a bloodshedder ⚑

²³ When one buildeth and another pulleth down what profit have they then but labour ⚑

²⁴ When one prayeth and another curseth whose voice will the Lord hear ⚑

²⁵ He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body if he touch it again what availeth his washing ⚑

²⁶ So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins and goeth again and doeth the same who will hear his prayer or what doth his humbling profit him ⚑