28 The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance,
for he keeps a strict account of[a] their sins.(A)
2 Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done,
and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.(B)
3 Does anyone harbor anger against another
and expect healing from the Lord?(C)
4 If people have no mercy toward those like themselves,
can they then seek pardon for their own sins?
5 If mere mortals harbor wrath,
who will make an atoning sacrifice for their sins?
6 Remember the end of your life and set enmity aside;
remember corruption and death and be true to the commandments.(D)
7 Remember the commandments and do not be angry with your neighbor;
remember the covenant of the Most High and overlook faults.(E)
8 Refrain from strife, and your sins will be fewer,
for the hot-tempered kindle strife(F)
9 and the sinner disrupts friendships
and sows discord among those who are at peace.(G)
10 In proportion to the fuel, so will the fire burn,
and in proportion to the obstinacy, so will strife increase;[b]
in proportion to people’s strength will be their anger,
and in proportion to their wealth they will increase their wrath.
11 A hasty quarrel kindles a fire,
and a hasty dispute sheds blood.
The Evil Tongue
12 If you blow on a spark, it will glow;
if you spit on it, it will be put out,
yet both come out of your mouth.(H)
13 Curse the gossips and the double-tongued,
for they destroy the peace of many.(I)
14 Slander[c] has shaken many
and scattered them from nation to nation;
it has destroyed strong cities
and overturned the houses of the great.
15 Slander[d] has driven courageous women from their homes
and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
16 Those who pay heed to slander[e] will not find rest,
nor will they settle down in peace.
17 The blow of a whip raises a welt,
but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.(J)
18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,
but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.(K)
19 Happy 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.
20 For its yoke is a yoke of iron,
and its fetters are fetters of bronze;(L)
21 its death is an evil death,
and Hades is preferable to it.
22 It has no power over the godly;
they will not be burned in its flame.(M)
23 Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;
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.(N)
24a Look! Fence in your property with thorns,(O)
and make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
Lock up your silver and gold,
and make balances and scales for your words.(P)
26 Take care not to err with your tongue[f]
and fall victim to one lying in wait.
Footnotes
- 28.1Other ancient authorities read for he firmly establishes
- 28.10Other ancient authorities read burn
- 28.14Gk A third tongue
- 28.15Gk A third tongue
- 28.16Gk it
- 28.26Gk with it
Cross references
- 28.1 : Deut 32.35; Job 14.16; Rom 12.19
- 28.2 : Mt 6.14; Mk 11.25
- 28.3 : Mt 18.23–35
- 28.6 : Sir 7.36
- 28.7 : Lev 19.18; Mk 12.33
- 28.8 : Sir 8.16
- 28.9 : Prov 6.12, 14, 19
- 28.12 : Jas 3.10
- 28.13 : Sir 5.14
- 28.17 : Sir 23.10
- 28.18 : Jas 3.8
- 28.20 : Mt 11.30
- 28.22 : Sir 8.10; Jas 3.6
- 28.23 : Hos 13.7; Sir 27.10, 28
- 28.24a : Sir 36.30
- 28.25 : Sir 21.25; 22.27