Sirach

¹Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding. Dreams give wings to fools. ²As one who grasps at a shadow and follows after the wind, so is he who sets his mind on dreams. ³The vision of dreams is a reflection, the likeness of a face near a face. ⁴From an unclean thing what can be cleansed? From that which is false what can be true? ⁵Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain. The heart has fantasies like a woman in labor. ⁶If they are not sent in a visitation from the Most High, don’t give your heart to them. ⁷For dreams have led many astray. They have failed by putting their hope in them. ⁸Without lying the law will be fulfilled. Wisdom is complete in a faithful mouth.

⁹A well-instructed man knows many things. He who has much experience will declare understanding. ¹⁰He who has no experience knows few things. But he who has traveled increases cleverness. ¹¹I have seen many things in my travels. My understanding is more than my words. ¹²I was often in danger even to death. I was preserved because of these experiences.

¹³The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is in him who saves them. ¹⁴Whoever fears the Lord won’t be afraid, and won’t be a coward, for he is his hope. ¹⁵Blessed is the soul of him who fears the Lord. To whom does he give heed? Who is his support? ¹⁶The 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. ¹⁷He raises up the soul, and enlightens the eyes. He gives health, life, and blessing.

¹⁸He who sacrifices a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is made in mockery. The mockeries of wicked men are not acceptable. ¹⁹The Most High has no pleasure in the offerings of the ungodly, Neither is he pacified for sins by the multitude of sacrifices. ²⁰Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyes is he who brings a sacrifice from the goods of the poor. ²¹The bread of the needy is the life of the poor. He who deprives him of it is a man of blood. ²²Like 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. ²³When one builds, and another pulls down, what profit do they have but toil? ²⁴When one prays, and another curses, whose voice will the Lord listen to? ²⁵He who washes himself after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what does he gain by his washing? ²⁶Even 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?