Liber Ecclesiasticus, 35
1. Qui conservat legem, multiplicat oblationes:
1. A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools.
2. sacrificium salutare est attendere mandatis.
2. As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is he who gives heed to dreams.
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3. The vision of dreams is this against that, the likeness of a face confronting a face.
4. Qui retribuit gratiam, offert similaginem, et, qui facit eleemosynam, offert sacrificium laudis.
4. From an unclean thing what will be made clean? And from something false what will be true?
5. Beneplacitum est Domino recedere ab iniquitate, et deprecatio pro peccatis recedere ab iniustitia.
5. Divinations and omens and dreams are folly, and like a woman in travail the mind has fancies.
6. Non apparebis ante conspectum Domini vacuus:
6. Unless they are sent from the Most High as a visitation, do not give your mind to them.
7. haec enim omnia propter mandatum Dei fiunt.
7. For dreams have deceived many, and those who put their hope in them have failed.
8. Oblatio iusti impinguat altare, et odor suavitatis illius est in conspectu Altissimi;
8. Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom is made perfect in truthful lips.
9. sacrificium iusti acceptum est, et memoriam eius non obliviscetur Dominus.
9. An educated man knows many things, and one with much experience will speak with understanding.
10. Bono oculo gloriam redde Deo et non minuas primitias manuum tuarum;
10. He that is inexperienced knows few things, but he that has traveled acquires much cleverness.
11. in omni dato hilarem fac vultum tuum et in exsultatione sanctifica decimas tuas;
11. I have seen many things in my travels, and I understand more than I can express.
12. da Altissimo secundum datum eius et in bono oculo ad inventionem facito manuum tuarum,
12. I have often been in danger of death, but have escaped because of these experiences.
13. quoniam Dominus retribuens est et septies tantum reddet tibi.
13. The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is in him who saves them.
14. Noli offerre munera prava, non enim suscipiet illa;
14. He who fears the Lord will not be timid, nor play the coward, for he is his hope.
15. et noli confidere in sacrificio iniusto, quoniam Dominus iudex est, et non est apud illum gloria personae.
15. Blessed is the soul of the man who fears the Lord! To whom does he look? And who is his support?
16. Non accipiet personam in pauperem et deprecationem laesi exaudiet.
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. Non despiciet preces pupilli nec viduam, si effundat loquelam gemitus.
17. He lifts up the soul and gives light to the eyes; he grants healing, life, and blessing.
18. Nonne lacrimae viduae ad maxillam descendunt, et exclamatio eius super deducentem eas?
18. If one sacrifices from what has been wrongfully obtained, the offering is blemished; the gifts of the lawless are not acceptable.
19. A maxilla enim ascendunt usque ad caelum, et Dominus exauditor non delectabitur in illis.
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. Qui adorat Deum, in beneplacito suscipietur, et deprecatio illius usque ad nubes propinquabit.
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. Oratio humilis nubes penetrabit et, donec propinquet, non consolabitur; et non discedet, donec Altissimus aspiciat, et iudex iustus faciat iudicium.
21. The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it is a man of blood.
22. Et Dominus non tardabit, et Fortissimus non habebit in illis patientiam, donec contribulet dorsum crudelium
22. To take away a neighbor's living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood.
23. et gentibus reddet vindictam, donec tollat multitudinem superborum et sceptra iniquorum contribulet,
23. When one builds and another tears down, what do they gain but toil?
24. donec reddat hominibus secundum actus suos et opera Adae secundum praesumptionem illius,
24. When one prays and another curses, to whose voice will the Lord listen?
25. donec iudicet iudicium plebis suae et oblectabit istos misericordia sua.
25. If a man washes after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what has he gained by his washing?
26. Speciosa misericordia in tempore tribulationis, quasi nubes pluviae in tempore siccitatis.
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?
