1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Sirach 34:1 The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and deceitful: and dreams lift up fools.

The. Greek, "on dreams. The," etc. (Haydock) --- No dependence can be had on the pretended interpretation of dreams, which do not come from God; (Calmet) as some do, Matthew i., and Daniel 2:(Worthington)
Sirach 34:2 The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind.
Sirach 34:3 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.

Man. When he turns away from the mirror, it appears no more, James 1:23.
Sirach 34:4 What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come from that which is false?

Unclean. This text has been abused, to prove that the sinner cannot confer grace in the sacraments. (Calmet) --- But Christ does this by his ministry. (St. Augustine, Psalm 10. n. 6.)
Sirach 34:5 Deceitful divinations and lying omens, and the dreams of evil doers, are vanity.

Deceitful. Greek, "divinations, and auguries, and dreams, are vain."
Sirach 34:6 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.

Travail. Such things cannot be explained. Twenty people will all give different interpretations. --- High, as those of Jacob, Joseph, etc., were. Yet it is difficult to make the discrimination. (St. Gregory, dial. 4:48.) --- Homer admits of two sorts of dreams. (Odyssey xix.)
Sirach 34:7 For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them.

Them. The devil takes advantage of their weakness, and they have recourse to magic, etc. (Calmet)
Sirach 34:8 The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.

Law, which forbids attention to dreams, Leviticus xix 26., and Isaias 8:20. (Cornelius a Lapide) --- No part of the law shall perish; and some will always explain it truly. (Worthington)
Sirach 34:9 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.

What. Greek, "A man who has travelled, knows much," etc. (Haydock) --- Thus Ulysses became so wise, (Homer) as well as the ancient philosophers, Pythagoras, etc. (St. Jerome, ad Paulin.) --- The knowledge derived from books will not suffice. (Calmet)
Sirach 34:10 He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence.

Experienced. Greek, "much abroad, shall abound with subtlety. (11.) I," etc.
Sirach 34:11 He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety.
Sirach 34:12 I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of things.

And. Greek, "And I know more than I announce." (Grabe's edition)
Sirach 34:13 Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God.

For. Greek, "On account of these things I have been saved:" (Haydock) by my great experience, which gives weight to my instructions.
Sirach 34:14 The spirit of those that fear God, is sought after, and by his regard shall be blessed.

Is. Greek, "shall live. (15.) For....them. (16.) He," etc. (Haydock)
Sirach 34:15 For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God are upon them that love him.
Sirach 34:16 He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not be afraid: for he is his hope.
Sirach 34:17 The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed.
Sirach 34:18 To whom doth he look, and who is his strength?
Sirach 34:19 *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.

Psalm 33:16.
Sirach 34:20 A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling; he raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giving health, and life, and blessing.

From falling, or when a person is fallen.
Sirach 34:21 *The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, is stained; and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable.

Proverbs 21:27. 		Mockeries. Some Greek copies have "gifts." Such unjust presents or sacrifices, God will abhor, Isaias 41:8., and Deuteronomy 24:15. (Calmet)
Sirach 34:22 The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth and justice.

Lord. Greek, (23.) "most....wicked, nor," etc.
Sirach 34:23 *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.

Proverbs 15:8.
Sirach 34:24 He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.
Sirach 34:25 The bread of the needy is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood.
Sirach 34:26 He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that killeth his neighbour.

Bread. Greek, "a livelihood, killeth his neighbour; and he sheddeth blood, who keepeth back the hire of the workman." (Haydock)
Sirach 34:27 He that sheddeth blood, *and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, are brothers.

Deuteronomy 24:14.; Ecclesiasticus 7:22.
Sirach 34:28 When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have they but the labour?

Labour? So, if your sacrifices be ill-gotten, they will not be received; and if you relapse, you will be as bad as ever. (Calmet)
Sirach 34:29 When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God hear?
Sirach 34:30 He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth him again, what doth his washing avail?

Dead. Literally, "is baptized by or from the dead;" baptizatur a mortuo. (Haydock) --- St. Cyprian thought this text was peremptory against the baptism of heretics; and the Donatists were of the same opinion. They seem not to have read, if he touch him again, which entirely alters the meaning. St. Augustine admonishes them of this; though he explains it of the pagan rather than of the Jewish purifications, to which it refers, Numbers 19:11. See St. Augustine, contra Cres. 1:24., and 2:25., and contra Petil. 1:9., and St. Cyprian, ep. ad Quint. (Calmet)
Sirach 34:31 *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?

2 Peter 2:21. 		Prayer. A relapse makes the former repentance useless, Matthew 18:33. (Worthington)