Sirach 28

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 The vengeful will suffer the LORD'S vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail.	1 He that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.
2 Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.	2 Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurl thee: and then shall thy sins be forgiven to thee when thou prayest.
3 Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and expect healing from the LORD?	3 Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of God?
4 Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins?	4 He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he entreat for his own sins?
5 If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins?	5 He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins?
6 Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin!	6 Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease:
7 Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; of the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults.	7 For corruption and death hang over in his commandments.
8 Avoid strife and your sins will be fewer, for a quarrelsome man kindles disputes,	8 Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour.
9 Commits the sin of disrupting friendship and sows discord among those at peace.	9 Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the ignorance of thy neighbour.
10 The more wood, the greater the fire, the more underlying it, the fiercer the fight; The greater a man's strength, the sterner his anger, the greater his power, the greater his wrath.	10 Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sine:
11 Pitch and resin make fires flare up, and insistent quarrels provoke bloodshed.	11 For 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.
12 If you blow upon a spark, it quickens into flame, if you spit on it, it dies out; yet both you do with your mouth!	12 For 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.
13 Cursed be gossips and the double-tongued, for they destroy the peace of many.	13 A hasty contention kindleth a fire: and a hasty quarrel sheddeth blood: and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death.
14 A meddlesome tongue subverts many, and makes them refugees among the peoples; It destroys walled cities, and overthrows powerful dynasties.	14 If 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.
15 A meddlesome tongue can drive virtuous women from their homes and rob them of the fruit of their toil;	15 The whisperer and the double tongued is accursed: for he hath troubled many that were at peace.
16 Whoever heeds it has no rest, nor can he dwell in peace.	16 The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and scattered them from nation to nation.
17 A blow from a whip raises a welt, but a blow from the tongue smashes bones;	17 It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath overthrown the houses of great men.
18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as by the tongue.	18 It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone strong nations.
19 Happy he who is sheltered from it, and has not endured its wrath; Who has not borne its yoke nor been fettered with its chain;	19 The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women, and deprived them of their labours.
20 For its yoke is a yoke of iron and its chains are chains of bronze!	20 He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither shall he have a friend in whom he may repose.
21 Dire is the death it inflicts, besides which even the nether world is a gain;	21 The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the tongue will break the bones.
22 It will not take hold among the just nor scorch them in its flame,	22 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have perished by their own tongue.
23 But those who forsake the LORD will fall victims to it, as it burns among them unquenchably! It will hurl itself against them like a lion; like a panther, it will tear them to pieces.	23 Blessed 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.
24 As you hedge round your vineyard with thorns, set barred doors over your mouth;	24 For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of brass.
25 As you seal up your silver and gold, so balance and weigh your words.	25 The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is preferable to it.
26 Take care not to slip by your tongue and fall victim to your foe waiting in ambush.	26 Its 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.
	27 They 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.
	28 Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue, and make doors and bars to thy mouth.
	29 Melt down thy gold and silver, and make a balance for thy words, and a just bridle for thy mouth:
	30 And 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.