Ben Sira 34:1-10

1 The senseless have vain and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools.
2 As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is anyone who believes in dreams.
3 What is seen in dreams is but a reflection, the likeness of a face looking at itself.
4 From an unclean thing what can be clean? And from something false what can be true?
5 Divinations and omens and dreams are unreal, and like a woman in labor, the mind has fantasies.
6 Unless they are sent by intervention from the Most High, pay no attention to them.
7 For dreams have deceived many, and those who put their hope in them have perished.
8 Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom is complete in the mouth of the faithful.
9 An educated person knows many things, and one with much experience knows what he is talking about.
10 An inexperienced person knows few things,

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Syr: Gk [pays heed to]
  • [b]. Other ancient authorities read [A traveled]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.