¹Those who are vengeful

will suffer the Lord’s vengeance,

because the Lord keeps strict count

of their sins.

²Forgive your neighbor a wrong,

and then, when you pray,

your sins will be forgiven.

³Can people hold on to their anger

against others, and then look for healing from the Lord?

⁴Can they refuse to have mercy

on people like themselves,

and then pray about their own sins?

⁵If they, who are just flesh,

hold on to anger,

who will secure pardon

for their own sins?

⁶Be mindful of the end that awaits you,

and put an end to enmity;

be mindful of decay and death,

and be faithful to the commandments.

⁷Be mindful of the commandments,

and don’t be irate at your neighbor;

be mindful of the covenant of the

Most High, and overlook a mistake.

⁸Keep away from conflict,

and you will reduce your sins;

for hot-tempered people spark conflict.

⁹Sinful people will stir up trouble for friends,

and they spread slander

among people who are at peace.

¹⁰A fire burns in proportion to its fuel,

and conflict increases

the longer it continues.

The more powerful individuals are,

the stronger their anger will be;

and the wealthier they are,

the more their wrath will increase.

¹¹A hasty quarrel sparks a fire,

and hasty conflict sheds blood.

¹²If you blow on a spark, it will flame up,

and if you spit on it, it will go out;

nonetheless, both come out

of your mouth.

¹³A curse on slanderers and the deceitful,[#28.13 LXX double-tongued]

because they have destroyed many

who are at peace.

¹⁴Slander has shaken up many people,[#28.14 LXX a third tongue]

scattered them from nation to nation,

demolished mighty cities,

and overthrown the houses

of dignitaries.

¹⁵Slander has driven out[#28.15 LXX a third tongue]

courageous women,

and it has deprived them

of the rewards of their work.

¹⁶Those who pay attention to slander

will never find rest,

nor will they live in peace.

¹⁷The blow of a whip leaves a welt,

but the blow of the tongue

will break bones.

¹⁸Many have fallen by the edge

of the sword,

but many more have fallen

because of the tongue.

¹⁹Happy is the person

who is protected from the tongue,

who hasn’t endured its anger,

who hasn’t pulled its yoke

or been bound by its shackles.

²⁰Its yoke is made of iron,

and its shackles are made of bronze.

²¹The death it inflicts is a wicked death,

and the grave is preferable to it.

²²It will never conquer the godly,

and they won’t be burned by its flame.

²³Those who abandon the Lord will

fall to it;

it will burn within them,

and it will never go out.

It will be sent against them like a lion,

and like a leopard it will mangle them.

²⁴a Watch out! Fence in your property

with thorns,

²⁵b and make a door

and a bolt for your mouth.

²⁴b Lock up your silver and gold;

²⁵a make a balance and a weight

for your words.

²⁶Pay attention, and don’t slip

by your tongue;

don’t fall in front of those

who are just waiting to attack you.