Sirach 28

¹He who takes vengeance will find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely make his sins firm.

²Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.⇄ (1 connection)

³Does anyone harbor anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?† (1 connection)

⁴Upon a man like himself he has no mercy, and does he make supplication for his own sins?

⁵He himself, being flesh, nourishes wrath. Who will make atonement for his sins?

⁶Remember your last end, and stop enmity. Remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.

⁷Remember the commandments, and don’t be angry with your neighbor. Remember the covenant of the Highest, and overlook ignorance.

⁸Abstain from strife, and you will diminish your sins, for a passionate man will kindle strife.

⁹A man who is a sinner will trouble friends and sow discord among those who are at peace.

¹⁰As is the fuel of the fire, so it will burn; and as the stoutness of the strife is, so it will burn. As is the strength of the man, so will be his wrath; and as is his wealth, so he will exalt his anger.

¹¹A contention begun in haste kindles a fire; and hasty fighting sheds blood.

¹²If you blow on a spark, it will burn; and if you spit upon it, it will be quenched. Both of these come out of your mouth.⇄ (1 connection)

¹³Curse the whisperer and double-tongued, for he has destroyed many who were at peace.

¹⁴A slanderer has shaken many, and dispersed them from nation to nation. It has pulled down strong cities and overthrown the houses of great men.

¹⁵A slanderer has cast out brave women and deprived them of their labors.† (1 connection)

¹⁶He who listens to it will not find rest, nor will he live quietly.

¹⁷The stroke of a whip makes a mark in the flesh, but the stroke of a tongue will break bones.

¹⁸Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, yet not so many as those who have fallen because of the tongue.⇄ (1 connection)

¹⁹Happy is he who is sheltered from it, who has not passed through its wrath, who has not drawn its yoke, and has not been bound with its bands.

²⁰For its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its bands are bands of brass.

²¹Its death is an evil death, and Hades is better than it.

²²It will not have rule over godly men. They will not be burned in its flame.

²³Those who forsake the Lord will fall into it. It will burn among them, and won’t be quenched. It will be sent against them like a lion. It will destroy them like a leopard.

²⁴As you hedge your possession about with thorns, and secure your silver and your gold,†⇄ (18 connections)

²⁵so make a balance and a weight for your words, and make a door and a bar for your mouth.†⇄ (9 connections)

²⁶Take heed lest you slip with it, lest you fall before one who lies in wait.