Sirach 34:1-13

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

34 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^[a] 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.
¹¹ I have seen many things in my travels,
    and I understand more than I can express.
¹² I have often been in danger of death,
    but have escaped because of these experiences.

¹³ The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live,
    for their hope is in him who saves them.