Sirach 34:28-31

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

²⁸ When one builds and another tears down,
    what do they gain but hard work?
²⁹ When one prays and another curses,
    to whose voice will the Lord listen?
³⁰ If one washes after touching a corpse, and touches it again,
    what has been gained by washing?
³¹ So if one fasts for his sins,
    and goes again and does the same things,
who will listen to his prayer?
    And what has he gained by humbling himself?