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Ecclesiasticus
Chapter 34
The vanity of dreams. The advantage of experience, and of the fear of God.
 1 |
The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools. |
2 |
The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind. |
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 |
What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false? |
5 |
Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity: |
6 |
And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it be a vision sent forth from the most High, set not thy heart upon them. |
7 |
For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them. |
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 |
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 |
He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence. |
11 |
He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety. |
12 |
I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things. |
13 |
Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God. |
14 |
The spirit of those that fear God, is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed. |
15 |
For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him. |
16 |
He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid: for he is his hope. |
17 |
The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed. |
18 |
To whom doth he look, and who is his strength? |
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 |
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 |
The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable. |
22 |
The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice. |
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 sins by the multitude of their sacrifices. |
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 |
The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood. |
26 |
He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour. |
27 |
He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the laborer of his hire, are brothers. |
28 |
When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour? |
29 |
When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear? |
30 |
He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail? |
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? |
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