Liber Ecclesiasticus, 34

1. vana spes et mendacium insensato viro et somnia extollunt inprudentes

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

2. quasi qui adprehendit umbram et persequitur ventum sic et qui adtendit ad visa mendacia

2. The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.

3. hoc secundum hoc visio somniorum ante faciem hominis similitudo hominis

3. The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man.

4. ab inmundo quid mundabitur et a mendace quid verum dicetur

4. What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?

5. divinatio erroris et auguria mendacia et somnia malefacientium vanitas est

5. Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:

6. et sicut parturientis cor tuum fantasiam patitur nisi ab Altissimo fuerit emissa visitatio ne dederis in illis cor tuum

6. And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it be a vision sent forth from the most High, set no thy heart upon them.

7. multos enim errare fecerunt somnia et exciderunt sperantes in illis

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

8. sine mendacio consummabitur verbum et sapientia in ore fidelis conplanabitur

8. The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.

9. qui non temptatus est quid scit vir in multis expertus cogitavit multa et qui multa didicit enarrabit intellectum

9. What doth he know, that hath not been tried? A man that hath much experience, shall think of many things: and he that hath learned many things, shall shew forth understanding.

10. qui non est expertus pauca recognoscit qui autem in multis factus est multiplicabit malitiam

10. He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.

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11. He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.

12. multa vidi errando et plurimas verborum consuetudines

12. I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.

13. aliquotiens usque ad mortem periclitatus sum horum causa et liberatus sum gratia Dei

13. Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God.

14. spiritus timentium Deum quæretur et in respectu illius benedicentur

14. The spirit of those that fear God; is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.

15. spes enim illorum in salvantem illos et oculi Dei in diligentes se

15. For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him.

16. qui timet Dominum nihil trepidabit et non pavebit quoniam ipse est spes ejus

16. He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid for he is his hope.

17. timentis Dominum beata est anima ejus

17. The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.

18. ad quem respicit et quis est fortitudo ejus

18. To whom doth he look, and who in his strength?

19. oculi Domini super timentes eum protector potentiæ firmamentum virtutis tegimen ardoris et umbraculum meridiani

19. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, he is their powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from the heat, and a cover from the sun at noon,

20. et precatio offensionis et adiutorium casus exaltans animam et inluminans oculos dans sanitatem vitam et benedictionem

20. A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling; he raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and life, and blessing.

21. immolans ex iniquo oblatio est maculata et non sunt beneplacitæ subsannationes iniustorum

21. The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.

22. Dominus solus sustinentibus se in via veritatis et justitiæ

22. The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.

23. dona iniquorum non probat Altissimus in oblationibus iniquorum nec in multitudine sacrificiorum eorum propitiabitur peccatis

23. The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked: neither hath he respect to the oblations of the unjust, nor will he be pacified for sine by the multitude of their sacrifices.

24. qui offert sacrificium ex substantia pauperum quasi qui victimat filium in conspectu patris sui

24. He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.

25. panis egentium vita pauperis est qui defraudat illum homo sanguinis

25. The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.

26. qui aufert in sudore panem quasi qui occidit proximum suum

26. He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.

27. qui effundit sanguinem et qui fraudem facit mercedem mercennario

27. He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, are brothers.

28. unus ædificans et unus destruens quid prodest illis nisi labor

28. When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour?

29. unus orans et unus maledicens cujus vocem exaudiet Deus

29. When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear?

30. qui baptizatur a mortuo et iterum tangit illum quid proficit lavatione illius

30. He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail?

31. sic homo qui jejunat in peccatis suis et iterum eadem faciens quid proficit humiliando se orationem illius quis exaudiet

31. So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again, what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer?