Sirach 34:19–26
19The Most High has no pleasure in the offerings of the ungodly, Neither is he pacified for sins by the multitude of sacrifices.↗
20Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyes is he who brings a sacrifice from the goods of the poor.↗
21The bread of the needy is the life of the poor. He who deprives him of it is a man of blood.↗
22Like one who murders his neighbor is he who takes away his living. Like a shedder of blood is he who deprives a hireling of his hire.↗
23When one builds, and another pulls down, what profit do they have but toil?↗
24When one prays, and another curses, whose voice will the Lord listen to?↗
25He who washes himself after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what does he gain by his washing?↗
26Even so a man fasting for his sins, and going again, and doing the same, who will listen to his prayer? What profit does he have in his humiliation?↗
Source: World English Bible (Catholic), public domain. Text is taken directly from the source. Headings are editorial, not biblical verses.
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