Sirach 34 Clementine Vulgate
1 [Vana spes et mendacium viro insensato: et somnia extollunt imprudentes.
1 Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding. Dreams give wings to fools.
2 Quasi qui apprehendit umbram et persequitur ventum, sic et qui attendit ad visa mendacia.
2 As one who grasps at a shadow and follows after the wind, so is he who sets his mind on dreams.
3 Hoc secundum hoc visio somniorum, ante faciem hominis similitudo hominis.
3 The vision of dreams is a reflection, the likeness of a face near a face.
4 Ab immundo, quid mundabitur? et a mendace, quid verum dicetur?
4 From an unclean thing what can be cleansed? From that which is false what can be true?
5 Divinatio erroris, et auguria mendacia, et somnia malefacientium, vanitas est:
5 Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain. The heart has fantasies like a woman in labor.
6 et sicut parturientis, cor tuum phantasias patitur. Nisi ab Altissimo fuerit emissa visitatio, ne dederis in illis cor tuum:
6 If they are not sent in a visitation from the Most High, don’t give your heart to them.
7 multos enim errare fecerunt somnia, et exciderunt sperantes in illis.
7 For dreams have led many astray. They have failed by putting their hope in them.
8 Sine mendacio consummabitur verbum legis, et sapientia in ore fidelis complanabitur.]
8 Without lying the law will be fulfilled. Wisdom is complete in a faithful mouth.
9 [Qui non est tentatus quid scit? vir in multis expertus cogitabit multa: et qui multa didicit enarrabit intellectum.
9 A well-instructed man knows many things. He who has much experience will declare understanding.
10 Qui non est expertus pauca recognoscit: qui autem in multis factus est, multiplicat malitiam.
10 He who has no experience knows few things. But he who has traveled increases cleverness.
11 Qui tentatus non est qualia scit? qui implanatus est abundabit nequitia.
11 I have seen many things in my travels. My understanding is more than my words.
12 Multa vidi errando, et plurimas verborum consuetudines.
12 I was often in danger even to death. I was preserved because of these experiences.
13 Aliquoties usque ad mortem periclitatus sum horum causa, et liberatus sum gratia Dei.]
13 The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is in him who saves them.
14 [Spiritus timentium Deum quæritur, et in respectu illius benedicetur.
14 Whoever fears the Lord won’t be afraid, and won’t be a coward, for he is his hope.
15 Spes enim illorum in salvantem illos, et oculi Dei in diligentes se.
15 Blessed is the soul of him who fears the Lord. To whom does he give heed? Who is his support?
16 Qui timet Dominum nihil trepidabit: et non pavebit, quoniam ipse est spes ejus.
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 Timentis Dominum, beata est anima ejus.
17 He raises up the soul, and enlightens the eyes. He gives health, life, and blessing.
18 Ad quem respicit, et quis est fortitudo ejus?
18 He who sacrifices a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is made in mockery. The mockeries of wicked men are not acceptable.
19 Oculi Domini super timentes eum: protector potentiæ, firmamentum virtutis, tegimen ardoris, et umbraculum meridiani:
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 deprecatio offensionis, et adjutorium casus: exaltans animam, et illuminans oculos, dans sanitatem, et vitam, et benedictionem.]
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 [Immolantis ex iniquo oblatio est maculata, et non sunt beneplacitæ subsannationes injustorum.
21 The bread of the needy is the life of the poor. He who deprives him of it is a man of blood.
22 Dominus solus sustinentibus se in via veritatis et justitiæ.
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 Dona iniquorum non probat Altissimus, nec respicit in oblationes iniquorum, nec in multitudine sacrificiorum eorum propitiabitur peccatis.
23 When one builds, and another pulls down, what profit do they have but toil?
24 Qui offert sacrificium ex substantia pauperum, quasi qui victimat filium in conspectu patris sui.
24 When one prays, and another curses, whose voice will the Lord listen to?
25 Panis egentium vita pauperum est: qui defraudat illum homo sanguinis est.
25 He who washes himself after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what does he gain by his washing?
26 Qui aufert in sudore panem, quasi qui occidit proximum suum.
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?
27 Qui effundit sanguinem, et qui fraudem facit mercenario, fratres sunt.
27 Not in this translation
28 Unus ædificans, et unus destruens: quid prodest illis, nisi labor?
28 Not in this translation
29 Unus orans, et unus maledicens: cujus vocem exaudiet Deus?
29 Not in this translation
30 Qui baptizatur a mortuo, et iterum tangit eum, quid proficit lavatio illius?
30 Not in this translation
31 Sic homo qui jejunat in peccatis suis, et iterum eadem faciens: quid proficit humiliando se? orationem illius quis exaudiet?]
31 Not in this translation