Sirach
28:1 He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely
keep his sins [in remembrance.]
28:2 Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy
sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.
28:3 One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the
Lord?
28:4 He sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask
forgiveness of his own sins?
28:5 If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for pardon of
his sins?
28:6 Remember thy end, and let enmity cease; [remember] corruption and death,
and abide in the commandments.
28:7 Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour:
[remember] the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.
28:8 Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a furious man
will kindle strife,
28:9 A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among them that be
at peace.
28:10 As the matter of the fire is, so it burneth: and as a man's strength is,
so is his wrath; and according to his riches his anger riseth; and the
stronger they are which contend, the more they will be inflamed.
28:11 An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting sheddeth
blood.
28:12 If thou blow the spark, it shall burn: if thou spit upon it, it shall be
quenched: and both these come out of thy mouth.
28:13 Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that
were at peace.
28:14 A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from nation to
nation: strong cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of
great men.
28:15 A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of
their labours.
28:16 Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.
28:17 The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the
tongue breaketh the bones.
28:18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have
fallen by the tongue.
28:19 Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who hath not
drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands.
28:20 For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands
of brass.
28:21 The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it.
28:22 It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be
burned with the flame thereof.
28:23 Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them,
and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour
them as a leopard.
28:24 Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy
silver and gold,
28:25 And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth.
28:26 Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in
wait.
