Sirach 28

¹Whoever wishes for vengeance will find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely be attentive to his sins.

²Forgive your neighbor, if he has harmed you, and then your sins will be forgiven you when you pray.

³A man holds on to anger against another man, and does he then seek a remedy from God?

⁴He has no mercy on a man like himself, and does he then entreat for his own sins?

⁵He who is but flesh holds on to anger, and does he then request forgiveness from God? Who can obtain pardon for his sins in this way?

⁶Remember your very end, and let animosities cease.

⁷For corruption and death are suspended over his commandments.

⁸Remember the fear of God, and do not be angry with your neighbor.

⁹Remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook the ignorant offenses of your neighbor.

¹⁰Refrain from strife, and you will diminish your sins.

¹¹For an ill-tempered man enflames conflict, and a sinful man troubles his friends, and he casts hostility into the midst of those who have peace.

¹²For the fire burns according to the wood of the forest. And the anger of a man burns according to the strength of the man. And according to his resources, he will exalt his anger.

¹³A hasty contention kindles a fire. And a hasty quarrel sheds blood. And an accusatory tongue brings death.

¹⁴If you blow on a spark, it will increase to a fire. But if you spit on it, it will be extinguished. Both of these proceed from the mouth.

¹⁵The double-tongued whisperer is accursed. For he has disturbed many who had peace.

¹⁶A third tongue has stirred up many, and has scattered them from nation to nation.

¹⁷It has destroyed the walled cities of the wealthy, and has undermined the houses of the great.

¹⁸It has cut down the virtues of the peoples, and has broken strong nations.

¹⁹A third tongue has cast down virtuous women, and has deprived them of their labors.

²⁰Whoever favors it will not have rest, nor will he have a friend in whom he may find peace.

²¹The wound of a whip causes a bruise, but the wound of the tongue will crush the bones.

²²Many have fallen by the mouth of the sword, but not as many as have perished by their own tongue.

²³Blessed is he who is protected from a wicked tongue, who has not gone over to its wrath, and has not pulled its yoke, and has not been bound by its chains.

²⁴For its yoke is a yoke of iron. And its chains are chains of brass.

²⁵Its death is a most wicked death. And hell is more useful than it is.

²⁶Its continuance will not be permanent, but it will take hold of the ways of the unjust. And the just will not be burned by its flame.

²⁷Those who abandon God will fall by it, and it will burn within them and not be quenched. And it will be sent upon them, like a lion, and it will wound them, like a leopard.

²⁸Hedge your ears with thorns. Do not be willing to listen to a wicked tongue. And make doors and bars for your mouth.

²⁹Melt down your gold and your silver. And make a scale for your words, and an upright bridle for your mouth.

³⁰And be attentive, lest perhaps you may slip with your tongue, and fall in the sight of your enemies, who are lying in wait for you, and then your fall may be incurable unto death.

Sirach 28

¹He that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.

²Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurt thee: and then shall thy sins be forgiven to thee when thou prayest.

³Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of God?

⁴He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he entreat for his own sins?

⁵He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins?

⁶Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease:

⁷For corruption and death hang over in his commandments.

⁸Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour.

⁹Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the ignorance of thy neighbour.

¹⁰Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins.

¹¹For a passionate man kindleth strife, and a sinful man will trouble his friends, and bring in debate in the midst of them that are at peace.

¹²For as the wood of the forest is, so the fire burneth, and as a man's strength is, so shall his anger be, and according to his riches he shall increase his anger.

¹³A hasty contention kindleth a fire and a hasty quarrel sheddeth blood and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death.

¹⁴If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of the mouth.

¹⁵The whisperer and the double tongue is accursed: for he hath troubled many that were at peace.

¹⁶The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and scattered them from nation to nation.

¹⁷It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath overthrown the houses of great men.

¹⁸It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone strong nations.

¹⁹The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women, and deprived them of their labours.

²⁰He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither shall he have a friend in whom he may repose.

²¹The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the tongue will break the bones.

²²Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have perished by their own tongue.

²³Blessed is he that is defended from a wicked tongue, that hath not passed into the wrath thereof, and that hath not drawn the yoke thereof, and hath not been bound in its bands.

²⁴For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of brass.

²⁵The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is preferable to it.

²⁶Its continuance shall not be for a long time, but it shall possess the ways of the unjust: and the just shall not be burnt with its flame.

²⁷They that forsake God shall fall into it, and it shall burn in them, and shall not be quenched, and it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and as a leopard it shall tear them.

²⁸Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue, and make doors and bars to thy mouth.

²⁹Melt down thy gold and silver, and make a balance for thy words, and a just bridle for thy mouth:

³⁰And take heed lest thou slip with thy tongue, and fall in the sight of thy enemies who lie in wait for thee, and thy fall be incurable unto death.