Sirach 28

Sirach 28

1The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance,[#Deut 32.35; Job 14.16; Rom 12.19]

for he keeps a strict account of their sins.

2Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done,[#Mt 6.14; Mk 11.25]

and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.

3Does anyone harbor anger against another[#Mt 18.23–35]

and expect healing from the Lord?

4If people have no mercy toward those like themselves,

can they then seek pardon for their own sins?

5If mere mortals harbor wrath,

who will make an atoning sacrifice for their sins?

6Remember the end of your life and set enmity aside;[#Sir 7.36]

remember corruption and death and be true to the commandments.

7Remember the commandments and do not be angry with your neighbor;[#Lev 19.18; Mk 12.33]

remember the covenant of the Most High and overlook faults.

8Refrain from strife, and your sins will be fewer,[#Sir 8.16]

for the hot-tempered kindle strife

9and the sinner disrupts friendships[#Prov 6.12, 14, 19]

and sows discord among those who are at peace.

10In proportion to the fuel, so will the fire burn,

and in proportion to the obstinacy, so will strife increase;

in proportion to people’s strength will be their anger,

and in proportion to their wealth they will increase their wrath.

11A hasty quarrel kindles a fire,

and a hasty dispute sheds blood.

The Evil Tongue

12If you blow on a spark, it will glow;[#Jas 3.10]

if you spit on it, it will be put out,

yet both come out of your mouth.

13Curse the gossips and the double-tongued,[#Sir 5.14]

for they destroy the peace of many.

14Slander has shaken many[#28.14 Gk A third tongue]

and scattered them from nation to nation;

it has destroyed strong cities

and overturned the houses of the great.

15Slander has driven courageous women from their homes[#28.15 Gk A third tongue]

and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.

16Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest,[#28.16 Gk it]

nor will they settle down in peace.

17The blow of a whip raises a welt,[#Sir 23.10]

but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.

18Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,[#Jas 3.8]

but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.

19Happy is the one who is protected from it,

who has not been exposed to its anger,

who has not borne its yoke,

and who has not been bound with its fetters.

20For its yoke is a yoke of iron,[#Mt 11.30]

and its fetters are fetters of bronze;

21its death is an evil death,

and Hades is preferable to it.

22It has no power over the godly;[#Sir 8.10; Jas 3.6]

they will not be burned in its flame.

23Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;[#Hos 13.7; Sir 27.10, 28]

it will burn among them and will not be put out.

It will be sent out against them like a lion;

like a leopard it will mangle them.

24Look! Fence in your property with thorns,[#Sir 36.30]

25band make a door and a bolt for your mouth.[#Sir 21.25; 22.27]

24Lock up your silver and gold,

25and make balances and scales for your words.

26Take care not to err with your tongue[#28.26 Gk with it]

and fall victim to one lying in wait.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ