Sirach 28

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins [in remembrance.]	1 Whoever exacts vengeance wil experience the vengeance of the Lord, who keeps strict account of sin.
2 Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.	2 Pardon your neighbour any wrongs done to you, and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven.
3 One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord?	3 If anyone nurses anger against another, can one then demand compassion from the Lord?
4 He sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins?	4 Showing no pity for someone like oneself, can one then plead for one's own sins?
5 If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for pardon of his sins?	5 Mere creature of flesh, yet cherishing resentment!-who wil forgive one for sinning?
6 Remember thy end, and let enmity cease; [remember] corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.	6 Remember the last things, and stop hating, corruption and death, and be faithful to the commandments.
7 Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour: [remember] the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.	7 Remember the commandments, and do not bear your fel ow il -wil , remember the covenant of the MostHigh, and ignore the offence.
8 Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a furious man will kindle strife,	8 Avoid quarrel ing and you wil sin less; for the hot-tempered provokes quarrels,
9 A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among them that be at peace.	9 a sinner sows trouble between friends, introducing discord among the peaceful.
10 As the matter of the fire is, so it burneth: and as a man's strength is, so is his wrath; and according to his riches his anger riseth; and the stronger they are which contend, the more they will be inflamed.	10 The way a fire burns depends on its fuel, a quarrel spreads in proportion to its violence; a man's ragedepends on his strength, his fury grows fiercer in proportion to his wealth.
11 An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting sheddeth blood.	11 A sudden quarrel kindles fire, a hasty dispute leads to bloodshed.
12 If thou blow the spark, it shall burn: if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: and both these come out of thy mouth.	12 Blow on a spark and up it flares, spit on it and out it goes; both are the effects of your mouth.
13 Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.	13 A curse on the scandal-monger and double-talker, such a person has ruined many who lived inconcord.
14 A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men.	14 That third tongue has shattered the peace of many and driven them from nation to nation; it has pul eddown fortified cities, and overthrown the houses of the great.
15 A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours.	15 The third tongue has had upright wives divorced, depriving them of reward for their hard work.
16 Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.	16 No one who listens to it wil ever know peace of mind, wil ever live in peace again.
17 The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.	17 A stroke of the whip raises a weal, but a stroke of the tongue breaks bones.
18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.	18 Many have fal en by the edge of the sword, but many more have fal en by the tongue.
19 Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands.	19 Blessed is anyone who has been sheltered from it, and has not experienced its fury, who has notdragged its yoke about, or been bound in its chains;
20 For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass.	20 for its yoke is an iron yoke, its chains are bronze chains;
21 The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it.	21 the death it inflicts is a miserable death, Sheol is preferable to it.
22 It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof.	22 It cannot gain a hold over the devout, they are not burnt by its flames.
23 Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard.	23 Those who desert the Lord wil fal into it, it wil flare up inextinguishably among them, it wil be letloose against them like a lion, it wil tear them like a leopard.
24 Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold,	24 Be sure you put a thorn-hedge round your property, lock away your silver and gold;
25 And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth.	25 then make scales and weights for your words, and put a door with bolts across your mouth.
26 Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.	26 Take care you take no false step through it, in case you fal a prey to him who lies in wait.