1The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance,
for he keeps a strict account of their sins.
2Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done,
and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
3Does anyone harbor anger against another,
and expect healing from the Lord?
4If one has no mercy toward another like himself,
can he then seek pardon for his own sins?
5If a mere mortal harbors wrath,
who will make an atoning sacrifice for his sins?
6Remember the end of your life, and set enmity aside;
remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.
7Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbor;
remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults.
8Refrain from strife, and your sins will be fewer;
for the hot-tempered kindle strife,
9and the sinner disrupts friendships
and sows discord among those who are at peace.
10In proportion to the fuel, so will the fire burn,
and in proportion to the obstinacy, so will strife increase;
in proportion to a person’s strength will be his anger,
and in proportion to his wealth he will increase his wrath.
11A hasty quarrel kindles a fire,
and a hasty dispute sheds blood.
The Evil Tongue
12If you blow on a spark, it will glow;
if you spit on it, it will be put out;
yet both come out of your mouth.
13Curse the gossips and the double-tongued,
for they destroy the peace of many.
14Slander has shaken many,
and scattered them from nation to nation;
it has destroyed strong cities,
and overturned the houses of the great.
15Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes,
and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
16Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest,
nor will they settle down in peace.
17The blow of a whip raises a welt,
but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
18Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,
but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
19Happy is the one who is protected from it,
who has not been exposed to its anger,
who has not borne its yoke,
and has not been bound with its fetters.
20For its yoke is a yoke of iron,
and its fetters are fetters of bronze;
21its death is an evil death,
and Hades is preferable to it.
22It has no power over the godly;
they will not be burned in its flame.
23Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;
it will burn among them and will not be put out.
It will be sent out against them like a lion;
like a leopard it will mangle them.
24aAs you fence in your property with thorns,
25b so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
24bAs you lock up your silver and gold,
25a so make balances and scales for your words.
26Take care not to err with your tongue,
and fall victim to one lying in wait.
