Ecclesiasticus, 34

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

1. The foolish are deceived by vain and false hopes; dreams give them wings.

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

2. To rely on dreams is like grasping a shadow or chasing 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.

3. What you see in dreams are only reflections: a person sees his own image.

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

4. What clean thing can come from what is unclean? What truth comes from what is false?

5. Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancieth, as a woman's heart in travail.

5. Divinations, omens and dreams are empty like the fantasies of a woman in labor.

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

6. Unless they come as messengers of the Most High, do not pay attention to them.

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

7. For dreams have led many people astray. Those who hoped in them have fallen.

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

8. Not so the Law, which never fails but comes true. Wisdom from the truthful lips of God is the highest truth.

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

9. One who has traveled knows a great deal, and a man of wide experience will talk soundly.

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

10. A person who has not had trials knows very little. But the traveled man is competent in many ways.

11. When I travelled, I saw many things; and I understand more than I can express.

11. I have made many discoveries on my travels and understood more than I can express.

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

12. I have often been in danger of death but have been saved thanks to my experience.

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

13. The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is placed in the One who saves.

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

14. He who fears the Lord is in dread of nothing. He will not be cowardly 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?

15. He who fears the Lord is a happy person. To whom does he turn? Who is his support?

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.

16. The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him. For them he is powerful protection, strong support, shelter against scorching wind and the midday sun. He is a safeguard against stumbling and assurance against a fall.

17. He raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: he giveth health, life, and blessing.

17. He lifts up the soul and gives a sparkle to the eyes; he gives healing, 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.

18. An offering to God from stolen goods is a stained offering, the sacrifices of the wicked do not please God.

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

19. The Most High takes no pleasure in the offering of the godless. It is not the number of victims that obtains pardon for sin.

20. Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor doeth as one that killeth the son before his father's eyes.

20. Offering to God from what belongs to the poor is like slaughtering a son in the presence of his father.

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

21. Bread is life to the poor; he who takes it from them is a murderer.

22. He that taketh away his neighbour's living slayeth him; and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire is a bloodshedder.

22. He who deprives others of a livelihood kills them, and whoever withdraws the salary of a worker is guilty of blood.

23. When one buildeth, and another pulleth down, what profit have they then but labour?

23. If one builds and the other destroys, what do they gain besides trouble?

24. When one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voice will the Lord hear?

24. If one prays and the other curses, whose voice will the Master listen to?

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

25. If a man is cleansed after touching a corpse and then touches it again, what good was there in his cleansing?

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?

26. If anyone fasts for his sins and then commits the same sins, who will hear his prayer? What value is there in his fasting?