> [[sirach-27|← Previous]] | [[sirach-00|TOC]] | [[sirach-29|Next →]] --- # Sirach, Chapter 28 ## Chapter 28 1 The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance; ^sirach-28-1 indeed he remembers their sins in detail. 2 Forgive your neighbor the wrong done to you; ^sirach-28-2 then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. 3 Does anyone nourish anger against another ^sirach-28-3 and expect healing from the LORD? 4 Can one refuse mercy to a sinner like oneself, ^sirach-28-4 yet seek pardon for one’s own sins? 5 If a mere mortal cherishes wrath, ^sirach-28-5 who will forgive his sins? 6 Remember your last days and set enmity aside; ^sirach-28-6 remember death and decay, and cease from sin! 7 Remember the commandments and do not be angry with your neighbor; ^sirach-28-7 remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults. 8 Avoid strife and your sins will be fewer, ^sirach-28-8 for the hot-tempered kindle strife; 9 The sinner disrupts friendships ^sirach-28-9 and sows discord among those who are at peace. 10 The more the wood, the greater the fire, ^sirach-28-10 the more the cruelty, the fiercer the strife; The greater the strength, the sterner the anger, the greater the wealth, the greater the wrath. 11 Pitch and resin make fire flare up, ^sirach-28-11 and a hasty quarrel provokes bloodshed. ### The Evil Tongue 12 If you blow on a spark, it turns into flame, ^sirach-28-12 if you spit on it, it dies out; yet both you do with your mouth! 13 Cursed be gossips and the double-tongued, ^sirach-28-13 for they destroy the peace of many. 14 A meddlesome tongue subverts many, ^sirach-28-14 and makes them refugees among peoples. It destroys strong cities, and overthrows the houses of the great. 15 A meddlesome tongue drives virtuous women from their homes, ^sirach-28-15 and robs them of the fruit of their toil. 16 Whoever heed it will find no rest, ^sirach-28-16 nor will they dwell in peace. 17 A blow from a whip raises a welt, ^sirach-28-17 but a blow from the tongue will break bones. 18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, ^sirach-28-18 but not as many as by the tongue. 19 Happy the one who is sheltered from it, ^sirach-28-19 and has not endured its wrath; Who has not borne its yoke nor been bound with its chains. 20 For its yoke is a yoke of iron, ^sirach-28-20 and its chains are chains of bronze; 21 The death it inflicts is an evil death, ^sirach-28-21 even Sheol is preferable to it. 22 It will have no power over the godly, ^sirach-28-22 nor will they be burned in its flame. 23 But those who forsake the Lord will fall victim to it, ^sirach-28-23 as it burns among them unquenchably; It will hurl itself against them like a lion, and like a leopard, it will tear them to pieces. 24 As you fence in your property with thorns, ^sirach-28-24 so make a door and a bolt for your mouth. 25 As you lock up your silver and gold, ^sirach-28-25 so make balances and scales for your words. 26 Take care not to slip by your tongue ^sirach-28-26 and fall victim to one lying in ambush. \* (28:12] – [26) Further treatment of sins of the tongue and the havoc that results; cf. [5:9] – [6:1]; [19:5] – [17]; [20:18] – [26]; [23:7] – [15]. Gossips and the double-tongued destroy domestic peace (vv. [12] – [16]). The whip, the sword, chains, even Sheol, are not so cruel as the suffering inflicted by an evil tongue (vv. [17] – [21]). Not the godly but those who forsake the Lord are victims of their evil tongues (vv. [22] – [23]). Therefore, guard your mouth and tongue as you would guard treasure against an enemy (vv. [24] – [26]). a. (28:1) [Dt 32:35]; [Rom 12:19]. b. (28:2) ([[matthew-06|Mt 6]]:14]. c. (28:3) ([[matthew-18|Mt 18]]:23] – [35]. d. (28:6) [Sir 7:36]; [38:20]. e. (28:9) [Prv 15:18]. f. (28:10] – [11) [Prv 26:20] – [21]. g. (28:13) [Sir 5:13] – [6:1]. h. (28:18) [Jas 3:5] – [12]. i. (28:24) [[sirach-22|Sir 22]]:27; [Ps 141:3]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[sirach-27|← Previous]] | [[sirach-00|TOC]] | [[sirach-29|Next →]]