Sirach 34

1Vain hopes and lying belong to a man without understanding, And dreams give wing to senseless men.

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2Like him who grasps after shadows and chases the wind, So is he who pays attention to dreams.

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3The vision of dreams is this against that, The likeness of a face opposite a face.

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4What will be cleansed from an unclean thing? And what will be true from a false thing?

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5Divinations, omens, and dreams are worthless; And like a woman in the pains of childbirth, The heart becomes visible.

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6Unless visions are sent from the Most High in a visitation, Do not give your heart to them.

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7For dreams have deceived many, And those who hope in them have fallen away.

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8Without such lying, the law will be fulfilled, And wisdom is perfection in the mouth of the faithful.

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9A man who has traveled about knows many things, And a man with much experience will speak with understanding.

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10A man who has not been tested knows little, But he who has traveled about increases his astuteness.

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11I have seen many things in my travels, And my understanding is more than I can express in words.

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12I have frequently been in danger of death, But I have been saved because of these experiences.

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13The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, For their hope is in Him who saves them.

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14He who fears the Lord will fear nothing, And he will not be cowardly, for the Lord is his hope.

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15Blessed is the soul of a man who fears the Lord. To whom does he look? And who is his support?

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16The eyes of the Lord are upon those who love Him. He is a powerful protection and a strong support: A shelter from the burning heat, A shelter from the noonday sun, A guard from stumbling, And help from a fall.

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17He raises up the soul And gives light to the eyes. He gives healing, life, and blessing.

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18If a man sacrifices by means of wrongdoing, The offering is a mockery, And the gifts of the lawless are not accepted.

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19The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly, And a man does not atone for his sins with a multitude of sacrifices.

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20He who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor Is like one who kills a son in the sight of his father.

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21The bread of the needy is the life of the poor. He who deprives them of it is a man of bloodshed.

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22Whoever takes away his neighbor's livelihood murders him, And whoever deprives a hired worker of his wages sheds his blood.

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23If one builds up while another tears down, What do they profit other than toil?

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24If one prays while another curses, Whose voice will the Lord hear?

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25If a man washes himself after touching a corpse, Then touches it again, What does he profit by his washing?

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26So it is with a man who fasts over his sins And goes and does the same sins all over again. Who will hear his prayer?

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