Ben Sira 34:1-10

1 A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes, and dreams give wings to fools.
2 As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind, so is he who gives heed to dreams.
3 The vision of dreams is this against that, the likeness of a face confronting a face.
4 From an unclean thing what will be made clean? And from something false what will be true?
5 Divinations and omens and dreams are folly, and like a woman in travail the mind has fancies.
6 Unless they are sent from the Most High as a visitation, do not give your mind to them.
7 For dreams have deceived many, and those who put their hope in them have failed.
8 Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom is made perfect in truthful lips.
9 An educated man knows many things, and one with much experience will speak with understanding.
10 He that is inexperienced knows few things, but he that has traveled acquires much cleverness.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.