Глава 34

Fortune telling, omens, dreams - vanity; if they are not sent from the Almighty for admonition, do not attach your heart to them. Wisdom abides in the mouths of those who are faithful to it. He who fears the Lord will fear nothing, for his hope is the Lord. The Almighty does not favor the offerings of the wicked. Only sincere repentance for sins and a real willingness not to repeat them are beneficial. Sir.34:1 Empty and false hopes belong to a foolish man, and sleepy dreams give wings to fools. Sir.34:2 Like one who embraces a shadow or chases the wind, so one who believes in dreams. Sir.34:3 Dreams are exactly the same as the likeness of a face against a face. 3. Face versus face similarity, i.e. shadow of the face (cf. 2 tbsp.). Sir.34:4 What can be pure from something unclean, and what can be true from something false? Sir.34:5 Fortune telling and omens and dreams are vanity, and the heart is filled with dreams, like that of a woman giving birth. 5. He who believes in dreams awaits their fulfillment with the same longing with which a woman in labor awaits the appearance of her child. Sir.34:6 If they are not sent from the Most High for admonition, do not apply your heart to them. Sir.34:7 Dreams led many astray, and those who trusted in them fell. Sir.34:8 The law is fulfilled without deception, and wisdom is perfected in the mouth of the faithful. 8. The law is strictly implemented that wisdom abides and is perfected only in those who serve it diligently and unfeignedly. Sir.34:9 A learned man knows much, and a man of great experience will express knowledge. Sir.34:10 He who has not had experience knows little; and whoever has traveled has increased knowledge. Sir.34:11 I have seen many things in my wanderings, and I know more than I say. Sir.34:12 Many times I was in danger of death, and was saved with the help of experience. Sir.34:13 The spirit of those who fear the Lord shall live, for their hope is in Him who saves them. 13. Explained in verses 14–17. Sir.34:14 He who fears the Lord will not fear or fear anything, for He is his hope. Sir.34:15 Blessed is the soul of him who fears the Lord! by whom does he stand, and who is his support? Sir.34:16 The eyes of the Lord are on those who love Him. He is a mighty protection and a strong support, a cover from the heat and a cover from the midday heat, a guard against stumbling and a guard against falling; Sir.34:17 He exalts the soul and enlightens the eyes, gives medicine, life and blessing. Sir.34:18 Whoever brings a sacrifice from unrighteous acquisition, his offering is mocking, and the gifts of the wicked are not acceptable; Sir.34:19 The Most High does not take pleasure in the offerings of the wicked and does not make atonement for their sins with many sacrifices. Sir.34:20 As he who sacrifices a son before his father, so he who sacrifices is from the wealth of the poor. 20. Art. 21–22 explained. Sir.34:21 The bread of the needy is the life of the poor: he who takes it away is a bloodsucker. Sir.34:22 He kills his neighbor who takes away his food, and sheds blood who deprives a mercenary of his wages. Sir.34:23 When one builds and another destroys, what will they gain for themselves except weariness? Sir.34:24 When one prays and another curses, whose voice will the Master hear? Sir.34:25 When someone washes himself from the defilement of the dead and touches him again, what is the benefit of his washing? 23–25. Article 26 explained. You cannot build and destroy what is being built at the same time, pray for someone and curse him, wash yourself from defilement and immediately touch the desecrator, repent of sins and immediately repeat them. Sir.34:26 So a man who fasts for his sins and goes again and does the same thing: who will hear his prayer? and what benefit will he receive from being humble?