Sirach 34

¹ {cf2 The hope of a foolish man is vaine and false, and dreames make fooles to haue wings.}

² {cf2 Who so regardeth dreames, is like him that wil take holde of a shadow, and follow after the winde.}

³ {cf2 Euen so is it with the appearings of dreames, as the likenes of a face is before another face.}

⁴ {cf2 Who can be clensed by the vncleane? Or what trueth can be spoken of a liar?}

⁵ {cf2 Southsayings, witchcraft, and dreaming is but vanitie, and a minde that is occupied with fantasies, is as a woman that trauaileth.}

⁶ {cf2 Where as such visions come not of the most High to trie thee, set not thine heart vpon them.}

⁷ {cf2 For dreames haue deceiued many, and they haue failed that put their trust therein.}

⁸ {cf2 The Lawe shall be fulfilled without lies, and wisedome is sufficient to a faithfull mouth: what knowledge hath he that is not tried?}

⁹ {cf2 A man that is instructed, vnderstandeth much, and hee that hath good experience, can talke of wisdome.}

¹⁰ {cf2 Hee that hath no experience, knoweth litle, and he that erreth, is full of craft.}

¹¹ {cf2 When I wandered to and fro, I sawe many things, and mine vnderstanding is greater then I can expresse.}

¹² {cf2 I was oft times in danger of death, yet I was deliuered by these things.}

¹³ {cf2 The spirit of those that feare the Lord, shall liue: for their hope is in him that can helpe them.}

¹⁴ {cf2 Who so feareth the Lorde, feareth no man, neither is afraide: for he is his hope.}

¹⁵ {cf2 Blessed is the soule of him that feareth the Lorde: in whome putteth hee his trust? Who is his strength?}

¹⁶ {cf2 For the eyes of the Lorde haue respect vnto them, that loue him: he is their mightie protection, and strong ground, a defence from the heat, and a shadowe for the noone day, a succour from stumbling, and an helpe from falling.}

¹⁷ {cf2 Hee setteth vp the soule, and lightneth the eyes: he giueth health, life and blessing.}

¹⁸ {cf2 He that giueth an offering of vnrighteous goods, offereth a mocking sacrifice, and the giftes of the vnrighteous, please not him.}

¹⁹ {cf2 But the Lord is theirs only, that paciently abide him in the way of trueth and righteousnes.}

²⁰ {cf2 The most High doeth not alowe the offerings of the wicked, neither is he pacified for sinne by the multitude of sacrifice.}

²¹ {cf2 Who so bringeth an offering of the goods of the poore, doth as one that sacrificeth the sonne before the fathers eyes.}

²² {cf2 The bread of the needefull is the life of the poore: he that defraudeth him thereof, is a murtherer.}

²³ {cf2 Hee that taketh away his neighbours liuing, slayeth him, and hee that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, is a bloodsheader.}

²⁴ {cf2 When one buildeth, and another breaketh downe, what profite haue they then but labour?}

²⁵ {cf2 When one prayeth, and another curseth, whose voyce will the Lord heare?}

²⁶ {cf2 He that washeth himselfe because of a dead body, & toucheth it againe, what auaileth his washing?}

²⁷ {cf2 So is it with a man that fasteth for his sinnes, and committeth them againe: who will heare his prayer? or what doeth his fasting helpe him?}