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The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

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- Chapter 28 -

Lessons against revenge and quarrels. The evils of the tongue.

1
He who takes vengeance will find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely make his sins firm.
2
Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
3
Does anyone harbor anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?
4
Upon a man like himself he has no mercy, and does he make supplication for his own sins?
5
He himself, being flesh, nourishes wrath. Who will make atonement for his sins?
6
Remember your last end, and stop enmity. Remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.
7
Remember the commandments, and don’t be angry with your neighbor. Remember the covenant of the Highest, and overlook ignorance.
8
Abstain from strife, and you will diminish your sins, for a passionate man will kindle strife.
9
A man who is a sinner will trouble friends and sow discord among those who are at peace.
10
As is the fuel of the fire, so it will burn; and as the stoutness of the strife is, so it will burn. As is the strength of the man, so will be his wrath; and as is his wealth, so he will exalt his anger.
11
A contention begun in haste kindles a fire; and hasty fighting sheds blood.
12
If you blow on a spark, it will burn; and if you spit upon it, it will be quenched. Both of these come out of your mouth.
13
Curse the whisperer and double-tongued, for he has destroyed many who were at peace.
14
A slanderer has shaken many, and dispersed them from nation to nation. It has pulled down strong cities and overthrown the houses of great men.
15
A slanderer has cast out brave women and deprived them of their labors.
16
He who listens to it will not find rest, nor will he live quietly.
17
The stroke of a whip makes a mark in the flesh, but the stroke of a tongue will break bones.
18
Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, yet not so many as those who have fallen because of the tongue.
19
Happy is he who is sheltered from it, who has not passed through its wrath, who has not drawn its yoke, and has not been bound with its bands.
20
For its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its bands are bands of brass.
21
Its death is an evil death, and Hades is better than it.
22
It will not have rule over godly men. They will not be burned in its flame.
23
Those who forsake the Lord will fall into it. It will burn among them, and won’t be quenched. It will be sent against them like a lion. It will destroy them like a leopard.
24
As you hedge your possession about with thorns, and secure your silver and your gold,
25
so make a balance and a weight for your words, and make a door and a bar for your mouth.
26
Take heed lest you slip with it, lest you fall before one who lies in wait.

Lessons against revenge and quarrels. The evils of the tongue.

1
He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.
2
Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.
3
One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord?
4
He sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins?
5
If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for pardon of his sins?
6
Remember thy end, and let enmity cease; remember corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.
7
Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour: remember the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.
8
Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a furious man will kindle strife,
9
A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among them that be at peace.
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.
11
An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting sheddeth blood.
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.
13
Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.
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.
15
A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours.
16
Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.
17
The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.
18
Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen 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.
20
For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass.
21
The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it.
22
It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof.
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.
24
Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold,
25
And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth.
26
Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.
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