Chapter 28

¹He that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance. ²Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurl thee: and then shall thy sins be forgiven to thee when thou prayest. ³Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of God? ⁴He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he entreat for his own sins? ⁵He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins? ⁶Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease: ⁷For corruption and death hang over in his commandments. ⁸Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour. ⁹Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the ignorance of thy neighbour. ¹⁰Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sine: ¹¹For a passionate man kindleth strife, and a sinful man will trouble his friends, and bring in debate in the midst of them that are at peace. ¹²For as the wood of the forest is, so the fire burneth: and as a man's strength is, so shall his anger be, and according to his riches he shall increase his anger. ¹³A hasty contention kindleth a fire: and a hasty quarrel sheddeth blood: and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death. ¹⁴If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of the mouth. ¹⁵The whisperer and the double tongued is accursed: for he hath troubled many that were at peace. ¹⁶The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and scattered them from nation to nation. ¹⁷It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath overthrown the houses of great men. ¹⁸It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone strong nations. ¹⁹The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women, and deprived them of their labours. ²⁰He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither shall he have a friend in whom he may repose. ²¹The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the tongue will break the bones. ²²Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have perished by their own tongue. ²³Blessed is he that is defended from a wicked tongue, that hath not passed into the wrath thereof, and that hath not drawn the yoke thereof, and hath not been bound in its bands. ²⁴For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of brass. ²⁵The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is preferable to it. ²⁶Its continuance shall not be for a long time, but it shall possess the ways of the unjust: and the just shall not be burnt with its flame. ²⁷They that forsake God shall fall into it, and it shall burn in them, and shall not be quenched, and it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and as a leopard it shall tear them. ²⁸Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue, and make doors and bars to thy mouth. ²⁹Melt down thy gold and silver, and make a balance for thy words, and a just bridle for thy mouth: ³⁰And take heed lest thou slip with thy tongue, and fall in the sight of thy enemies who lie in wait for thee, and thy fall be incurable unto death.