Sirach 28

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Whoever exacts vengeance wil experience the vengeance of the Lord, who keeps strict account of sin.	1 He that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.
2 Pardon your neighbour any wrongs done to you, and when you pray, your 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 If anyone nurses anger against another, can one then demand compassion from the Lord?	3 Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of God?
4 Showing no pity for someone like oneself, can one then plead for one's own sins?	4 He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he entreat for his own sins?
5 Mere creature of flesh, yet cherishing resentment!-who wil forgive one for sinning?	5 He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins?
6 Remember the last things, and stop hating, corruption and death, and be faithful to the commandments.	6 Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease:
7 Remember the commandments, and do not bear your fel ow il -wil , remember the covenant of the MostHigh, and ignore the offence.	7 For corruption and death hang over in his commandments.
8 Avoid quarrel ing and you wil sin less; for the hot-tempered provokes quarrels,	8 Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour.
9 a sinner sows trouble between friends, introducing discord among the peaceful.	9 Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the ignorance of thy neighbour.
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.	10 Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sine:
11 A sudden quarrel kindles fire, a hasty dispute leads to 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 Blow on a spark and up it flares, spit on it and out it goes; both are the effects of 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 A curse on the scandal-monger and double-talker, such a person has ruined many who lived inconcord.	13 A hasty contention kindleth a fire: and a hasty quarrel sheddeth blood: and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death.
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.	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 The third tongue has had upright wives divorced, depriving them of reward for their hard work.	15 The whisperer and the double tongued is accursed: for he hath troubled many that were at peace.
16 No one who listens to it wil ever know peace of mind, wil ever live in peace again.	16 The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and scattered them from nation to nation.
17 A stroke of the whip raises a weal, but a stroke of the tongue breaks bones.	17 It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath overthrown the houses of great men.
18 Many have fal en by the edge of the sword, but many more have fal en by the tongue.	18 It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone strong nations.
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;	19 The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women, and deprived them of their labours.
20 for its yoke is an iron yoke, its chains are bronze chains;	20 He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither shall he have a friend in whom he may repose.
21 the death it inflicts is a miserable death, Sheol is preferable to it.	21 The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the tongue will break the bones.
22 It cannot gain a hold over the devout, they are not burnt by its flames.	22 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have perished by their own tongue.
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.	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 Be sure you put a thorn-hedge round your property, lock away your silver and gold;	24 For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of brass.
25 then make scales and weights for your words, and put a door with bolts across your mouth.	25 The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is preferable to it.
26 Take care you take no false step through it, in case you fal a prey to him who lies in wait.	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.