Abstract: A device for guiding a laser beam for machining a work piece, the laser beam being guided via a mirror system and a focusing optical system to processing points on the work piece that are preselectable by a suitable alignment of the mirrors. The mirror system is disposed farther away than the simple focal length from the optical main plane of the optical system. The device makes it possible to machine work pieces having elevations with the aid of a laser scanning device without the occurrence of self-shading.