Ecclesiasticus, 28

1. Whoever exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord, who keeps strict account of sin.

1. Many have committed sin for a trifle, and whoever seeks to get rich will avert his eyes.

2. Pardon your neighbour any wrongs done to you, and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven.

2. As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones, so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.

3. If anyone nurses anger against another, can one then demand compassion from the Lord?

3. If a man is not steadfast and zealous in the fear of the Lord, his house will be quickly overthrown.

4. Showing no pity for someone like oneself, can one then plead for one's own sins?

4. When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; so a man's filth remains in his thoughts.

5. Mere creature of flesh, yet cherishing resentment!-who will forgive one for sinning?

5. The kiln tests the potter's vessels; so the test of a man is in his reasoning.

6. Remember the last things, and stop hating, corruption and death, and be faithful to the commandments.

6. The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man's mind.

7. Remember the commandments, and do not bear your fellow ill-will, remember the covenant of the Most High, and ignore the offence.

7. Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, for this is the test of men.

8. Avoid quarrelling and you will sin less; for the hot-tempered provokes quarrels,

8. If you pursue justice, you will attain it and wear it as a glorious robe.

9. a sinner sows trouble between friends, introducing discord among the peaceful.

9. Birds flock with their kind; so truth returns to those who practice it.

10. The way a fire burns depends on its fuel, a quarrel spreads in proportion to its violence; a man's rage depends on his strength, his fury grows fiercer in proportion to his wealth.

10. A lion lies in wait for prey; so does sin for the workers of iniquity.

11. A sudden quarrel kindles fire, a hasty dispute leads to bloodshed.

11. The talk of the godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.

12. Blow on a spark and up it flares, spit on it and out it goes; both are the effects of your mouth.

12. Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave, but among thoughtful people stay on.

13. A curse on the scandal-monger and double-talker, such a person has ruined many who lived in concord.

13. The talk of fools is offensive, and their laughter is wantonly sinful.

14. That third tongue has shattered the peace of many and driven them from nation to nation; it has pulled down fortified cities, and overthrown the houses of the great.

14. The talk of men given to swearing makes one's hair stand on end, and their quarrels make a man stop his ears.

15. The third tongue has had upright wives divorced, depriving them of reward for their hard work.

15. The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed, and their abuse is grievous to hear.

16. No one who listens to it will ever know peace of mind, will ever live in peace again.

16. Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence, and he will never find a congenial friend.

17. A stroke of the whip raises a weal, but a stroke of the tongue breaks bones.

17. Love your friend and keep faith with him; but if you betray his secrets, do not run after him.

18. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but many more have fallen by the tongue.

18. For as a man destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.

19. Blessed is anyone who has been sheltered from it, and has not experienced its fury, who has not dragged its yoke about, or been bound in its chains;

19. And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and will not catch him again.

20. for its yoke is an iron yoke, its chains are bronze chains;

20. Do not go after him, for he is too far off, and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.

21. the death it inflicts is a miserable death, Sheol is preferable to it.

21. For a wound may be bandaged, and there is reconciliation after abuse, but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.

22. It cannot gain a hold over the devout, they are not burnt by its flames.

22. Whoever winks his eye plans evil deeds, and no one can keep him from them.

23. Those who desert the Lord will fall into it, it will flare up inextinguishably among them, it will be let loose against them like a lion, it will tear them like a leopard.

23. In your presence his mouth is all sweetness, and he admires your words; but later he will twist his speech and with your own words he will give offense.

24. Be sure you put a thorn-hedge round your property, lock away your silver and gold;

24. I have hated many things, but none to be compared to him; even the Lord will hate him.

25. then make scales and weights for your words, and put a door with bolts across your mouth.

25. Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head; and a treacherous blow opens up wounds.

26. Take care you take no false step through it, in case you fall a prey to him who lies in wait.

26. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who sets a snare will be caught in it.

27.

27. If a man does evil, it will roll back upon him, and he will not know where it came from.

28.

28. Mockery and abuse issue from the proud man, but vengeance lies in wait for him like a lion.

29.

29. Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare, and pain will consume them before their death.

30.

30. Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, and the sinful man will possess them.