Sirach 28

¹The Lord keeps a record

of those who take revenge

and he will punish them

for their sins.

²So forgive those who harm you,[#Mt 6.14; Mk 11.25,26.]

and when you pray,

God will forgive you.

³But don't expect

the Lord to forgive you

if you hold a grudge

⁴or refuse to show mercy.

⁵God won't accept sacrifices

for your sins

if you stay angry with others.

⁶Life is too short

to waste it by being angry,

so obey God

and forgive your enemies.

⁷Remember his commands

and his agreement with us.

Don't let the faults of others

make you angry with them.

Arguments

⁸If you control your temper,

you won't start arguments

or sin as much.

⁹And remember, it is sinful

to start an argument

that destroys a friendship.

¹⁰Stubbornness heats up

an argument,

just as adding wood

heats up a fire.

If you are rich and powerful,

you can afford

to lose your temper.

¹¹A quick temper can blaze up

and lead to murder.

¹²Blow on a spark

and it bursts into flames;

spit on a spark

and it dies out.

In the same way, your words

can either heat up an argument

or make it cool down.

Gossip, Lies, and Cruel Words

¹³Those who gossip and tell lies[#Si 51.2-6; Jas 3.5-12.]

are under God's curse,

because they have brought ruin

to innocent people

¹⁴and forced many others

to leave home and country.

Such talk has been the downfall

of strong cities

and powerful leaders.

¹⁵Because of lies others told,

faithful, hard-working wives

have been divorced

and have lost everything

¹⁶So if you want peace of mind,

don't listen to gossip!

¹⁷Whips leave painful stripes

on the skin,

but cruel words break bones

deep down inside

¹⁸and can be more deadly

than a sword.

*

¹⁹You should be happy

if you have never been attacked

with lies and gossip,

or felt them wrap around you

²⁰like heavy bronze chains

or a collar made of iron.

²¹Cruel words cause suffering[#28.21 Greek “evil death.”]

worse than death itself.

²²Although they are fiery flames,

they cannot harm

God's faithful people,

²³but those who reject him

will be burned to ashes.

And these cruel words

are like lions and leopards,

hunting down their victims

and tearing them apart.

²⁴You protect your land

with a hedge of thornbushes

and you keep your money

locked away safely.

²⁵Be just as careful

to guard what you say.

Always think before you speak,

and know when to be silent,

²⁶so that others cannot attack you

for what you have said.