Ecclesiasticus, 35

1. One who keeps the Law multiplies offerings; one who follows the commandments offers communion sacrifices.

1. A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools.

2. Proof of gratitude is an offering of fine flour, almsgiving a sacrifice of praise.

2. As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is he who gives heed to dreams.

3. To abandon wickedness is what pleases the Lord, to give up wrong-doing is an expiatory sacrifice.

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

4. Do not appear empty-handed in the Lord's presence; for all these things are due under the commandment.

4. From an unclean thing what will be made clean? And from something false what will be true?

5. The offering of the upright graces the altar, and its savour rises before the Most High.

5. Divinations and omens and dreams are folly, and like a woman in travail the mind has fancies.

6. The sacrifice of the upright is acceptable, its memorial will not be forgotten.

6. Unless they are sent from the Most High as a visitation, do not give your mind to them.

7. Honour the Lord with generosity, do not stint the first-fruits you bring.

7. For dreams have deceived many, and those who put their hope in them have failed.

8. Add a smiling face to all your gifts, and be cheerful as you dedicate your tithes.

8. Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom is made perfect in truthful lips.

9. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, as generously as your means can afford;

9. An educated man knows many things, and one with much experience will speak with understanding.

10. for the Lord is a good rewarder, he will reward you seven times over.

10. He that is inexperienced knows few things, but he that has traveled acquires much cleverness.

11. Do not try to bribe him with presents, he will not accept them, do not put your faith in wrongly motivated sacrifices;

11. I have seen many things in my travels, and I understand more than I can express.

12. for the Lord is a judge who is utterly impartial.

12. I have often been in danger of death, but have escaped because of these experiences.

13. He never shows partiality to the detriment of the poor, he listens to the plea of the injured party.

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

14. He does not ignore the orphan's supplication, nor the widow's as she pours out her complaint.

14. He who fears the Lord will not be timid, nor play the coward, for he is his hope.

15. Do the widow's tears not run down her cheeks, as she accuses the man who is the cause of them?

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

16. Whoever wholeheartedly serves God will be accepted, his petitions will carry to the clouds.

16. The eyes of the Lord are upon those who love him, a mighty protection and strong support, a shelter from the hot wind and a shade from noonday sun, a guard against stumbling and a defense against falling.

17. The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds: and until it does, he is not to be consoled,

17. He lifts up the soul and gives light to the eyes; he grants healing, life, and blessing.

18. nor will he desist until the Most High takes notice of him, acquits the upright and delivers judgement.

18. If one sacrifices from what has been wrongfully obtained, the offering is blemished; the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable.

19. And the Lord will not be slow, nor will he be dilatory on their behalf,

19. The Most High is not pleased with the offerings of the ungodly; and he is not propitiated for sins by a multitude of sacrifices.

20. until he has crushed the loins of the merciless and exacted vengeance on the nations,

20. Like one who kills a son before his father's eyes is the man who offers a sacrifice from the property of the poor.

21. until he has eliminated the hordes of the arrogant and broken the sceptres of the wicked,

21. The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it is a man of blood.

22. until he has repaid all people as their deeds deserve and human actions as their intentions merit,

22. To take away a neighbor's living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood.

23. until he has judged the case of his people and made them rejoice in his mercy.

23. When one builds and another tears down, what do they gain but toil?

24. Mercy is welcome in time of trouble, like rain clouds in time of drought.

24. When one prays and another curses, to whose voice will the Lord listen?

25.

25. If a man washes after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what has he gained by his washing?

26.

26. So if a man fasts for his sins, and goes again and does the same things, who will listen to his prayer? And what has he gained by humbling himself?