Sirach · Catholic Public Domain Version
Sirach 34 Catholic Public Domain Version
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
Sirach is not in RV1909.
1 The hopes of a senseless man are empty and false; and dreams extol the imprudent.
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2 Like one who chases a shadow and pursues the wind, so also is one who pays attention to lying visions.
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3 In the vision of dreams, one thing represents another, as when a mask is before the face of a man.
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4 What can be cleansed by the unclean? And what truth can be spoken from a lie?
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5 Erroneous divinations and false signs and the dreams of evildoers are emptiness.
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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.
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7 For dreams have caused many to go astray, and those who have hoped in them have fallen away.
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8 The word of the law will be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom will be made plain in the mouths of the faithful.
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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.
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10 He who has no experience knows little. And he who has done many things has made many mistakes.
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11 He who has not been tested, what kind of things can he know? He who has been deceived will be more cunning.
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12 I have seen much by wandering, and the customs of many things.
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13 At times, I have even been in danger of death because of these things, but I was freed by the grace of God.
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14 The spirit of those who fear God is sought, and they will be blessed by his providence.
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15 For their hope is in him who saves them, and the eyes of God are on those who love him.
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16 Those who fear the Lord will tremble at nothing, and they will not be terrified. For he is their hope.
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17 The soul of him who fears the Lord is blessed.
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18 To whom should he look, and who is his strength?
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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,
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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.
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21 An immolation from iniquity is a stained oblation, and the derisions of the unjust are not well pleasing.
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22 The Lord is only for those who persevere for him in the way of truth and justice.
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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.
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24 Whoever offers a sacrifice from the substance of the poor is like one who sacrifices the son in the sight of his father.
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25 The bread of the indigent is the life of the poor. Whoever cheats them out of it is a man of blood.
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26 Whoever takes away the bread of sweat is like one who kills his neighbor.
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27 He who sheds blood, and he who cheats the hired hand out of his wages, are brothers.
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28 When one builds and another destroys, what benefit do they have from their labor?
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29 When one prays and another curses, whose voice will God heed?
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30 He who washes himself after touching the dead, and then touches him again, what was the benefit of his washing?
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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?
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