The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus 28

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 a 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 ⚑