Sample Sirach « 28 »

28He that takes vengeance will find vengeance from the Lord;

And he will surely make firm his sins.

2Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has done you;

And then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.

3Man cherishes anger against man;

And does he seek healing from the Lord?

4Upon a man like himself he has no mercy;

And does he make supplication for his own sins?

5He being himself flesh nourishes wrath:

Who will make atonement for his sins?

6Remember your last end, and cease from enmity:

Remember corruption and death, and remain in the commandments.

7Remember the commandments, and be not angry with your neighbor;

And remember the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.


8Abstain from strife, and you will diminish your sins:

For a passionate man will kindle strife;

9And a man that is a sinner will trouble friends,

And will make debate among those who are at peace.

101 As is the fuel of the fire, so will it burn;

And as the stoutness of the strife is, so will it burn:

As is the strength of the man, so will be his wrath;

And as is his wealth, so he will exalt his anger.

11A contention begun in haste kindles a fire;

And a hasty fighting sheds blood.

12If you blow a spark, it will burn;

And if you spit upon it, it will be quenched:

And both these shall come out of your mouth.


13Curse the whisperer and double-tongued:

For he has destroyed many that were at peace.

14A third person’s tongue has shaken many,

And dispersed them from nation to nation;

And it has pulled down strong cities,

And overthrown the houses of great men.

15A third person’s tongue has cast out brave women,

And deprived them of their labors.

16He that listens to it will not find rest,

Nor shall he dwell quietly.

17The stroke of a whip makes a mark in the flesh;

But the stroke of a tongue will break bones.

18Many have fallen by the edge of the sword:

Yet not so many as those who have fallen because of the tongue.

19Happy is he that is sheltered from it,

That has not passed through the wrath thereof;

That has not drawn its yoke,

And has not been bound with its bands.

20For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron,

And the bands thereof are bands of brass.

21The death thereof is an evil death;

And Hades were better than it.

22It shall not have rule over godly men;

And they shall not be burned in its flame.

23They that forsake the Lord shall fall into it;

And it shall burn among them, and shall not be quenched:

It shall be sent forth upon them as a lion;

And as a leopard it shall destroy them.

24Look that you hedge your possession about with thorns;

Bind up your silver and your gold;

25And make a balance and a weight for your words;

And make a door and a bar for your mouth.

26Take heed lest you slip therein;

Lest you fall before one that lies in wait.

1 28:10 The order of the lines in this verse is uncertain.