Page 868 - bible

862 Ecclesiasticus

thy estate to another, lest thou repent, and thou 2 The man that giveth heed to lying visions,
entreat for the same. is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and
21 As long as thou livest, and hast breath in followeth after the wind.
thee, let no man change thee. 3 The vision of dreams is the resemblance of
22 For it is better that thy children should ask one thing to another: as when a man’s likeness
of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of is before the face of a man.
thy children. 4 What can be made clean by the unclean?
23 In all thy works keep the pre-eminence. and what truth can come from that which is
24 Let no stain sully thy glory. In the time false?
when thou shalt end the days of thy life, and 5 Deceitful divinations and lying omens and
in the time of thy decease, distribute thy inheri- the dreams of evildoers, are vanity:
tance. 6 And the heart fancieth as that of a woman
25 Fodder, and a wand, and a burden are for in travail: except it be a vision sent forth from
an ass: bread, and correction, and work for a the most High, set not thy heart upon them.
slave. 7 For dreams have deceived many, and they
26 He worketh under correction, and seeketh have failed that put their trust in them.
to rest: let his hands be idle, and he seeketh 8 The word of the law shall be fulfilled without
liberty. a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the
27 The yoke and the thong bend a stiff neck, mouth of the faithful.
and continual labours bow a slave. 9 What doth he know, that hath not been
28 Torture and fetters are for a malicious tried? A man that hath much experience, shall
slave: send him to work, that he be not idle: think of many things: and he that hath learned
29 For idleness hath taught much evil. many things, shall shew forth understanding.
30 Set him to work: for so it is fit for him.
10 He that hath no experience, knoweth lit-
And if he be not obedient, bring him down with tle: and he that hath been experienced in many
fetters, but be not excessive towards any one,
things, multiplieth prudence.
and do no grievous thing without judgment.
11 He that hath not been tried, what man-
31 If thou have a faithful servant, let him be
ner of things doth he know? he that hath been
to thee as thy own soul: treat him as a brother:
surprised, shall abound with subtlety.
because in the blood of thy soul thou hast gotten
12 I have seen many things by travelling, and
him.
many customs of things.
32 If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away:
13 Sometimes I have been in danger of death
33 And if he rise up and depart, thou knowest
for these things, and I have been delivered by
not whom to ask, and in what way to seek him.
the grace of God.
14 The spirit of those that fear God, is sought
Chapter 34 after, and by his regard shall be blessed.
15 For their hope is on him that saveth them,
The hopes of a man that is void of understanding and the eyes of God are upon them that love
are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools. him.