Ecclesiasticus, 28

1. He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins [in remembrance.]

1. He who demands revenge will suffer the vengeance of the Lord who keeps a strict account of his sins.

2. Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.

2. Forgive the mistakes of your neighbor and you may ask that your sins be forgiven.

3. One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord?

3. If a man bears resentment against another, how can he ask God for healing?

4. He sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins?

4. If he has no compassion on others, how can he pray for forgiveness for his sins?

5. If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for pardon of his sins?

5. As long as he, mere flesh, is resentful, who will obtain his pardon?

6. Remember thy end, and let enmity cease; [remember] corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.

6. Remember your end and give up hatred; keep in mind your final corruption in the grave and keep the commandments.

7. Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour: [remember] the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.

7. Remember the commandments and do not bear grudges against your neighbor. Remember the covenant with the Most High and overlook the offense.

8. Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a furious man will kindle strife,

8. Refrain from quarreling and you will avoid sin; the hot-headed man sparks off disputes.

9. A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among them that be at peace.

9. The sinner causes trouble between friends, sowing discord among peaceful people.

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.

10. Fire burns when fuel is thrown on it; stubbornness drags out the discussion. The more powerful the man, the greater his rage; his anger will be in proportion to his riches.

11. An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting sheddeth blood.

11. A sudden quarrel sparks off a fire; a hasty dispute leads to bloodshed.

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.

12. Blow on a spark and it ignites; spit on it and it dies out: both come from your mouth.

13. Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.

13. Cursed be the gossiper with his spiteful tongue. He has destroyed many who lived peacefully.

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.

14. The vicious tongue has demolished many and hounded them from nation to nation. It has ruined powerful cities and laid low great households.

15. A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours.

15. The vicious tongue has cast out wives who were beyond reproach, depriving them of the fruit of their work.

16. Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.

16. Whoever listens to it will never find rest or be able to live in peace.

17. The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.

17. The whip leaves a mark but the lash of the tongue shatters bones.

18. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.

18. Many have been felled by the sword but many more have perished 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.

19. Happy he who has escaped it and has not been exposed to its fury, who has not been weighed down by its yoke or been tied up in its chains.

20. For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass.

20. For it is a yoke of iron and its chains are bronze.

21. The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it.

21. It brings a miserable death. Actual death is better!

22. It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof.

22. But it will not tyrannize those who keep faith, it will not consume their soul.

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.

23. Those who desert the Lord will be its victims, it will burn them without being burnt up itself; it will lunge at them like a lion, and rip them apart like a leopard.

24. Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold,

24. Look, you put a fence around your property and protect your silver and gold.

25. And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth.

25. In the same way, make weights and scales for your words and put a bolted door at your mouth.

26. Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.

26. Beware of a slip of the tongue when you speak, lest you fall in front of those who lie in wait for you.