1 Those who are vengefulwill suffer the Lord’s vengeance,because the Lord keeps strict countof their sins.
2 Forgive your neighbor a wrong,and then, when you pray,your sins will be forgiven.
3 Can people hold on to their angeragainst others, and then look for healing from the Lord?
4 Can they refuse to have mercyon people like themselves,and then pray about their own sins?
5 If they, who are just flesh,hold on to anger,who will secure pardonfor their own sins?
6 Be mindful of the end that awaits you,and put an end to enmity;be mindful of decay and death,and be faithful to the commandments.
7 Be mindful of the commandments,and don’t be irate at your neighbor;be mindful of the covenant of theMost High, and overlook a mistake.
8 Keep away from conflict,and you will reduce your sins;for hot-tempered people spark conflict.
9 Sinful people will stir up trouble for friends,and they spread slanderamong people who are at peace.
10 A fire burns in proportion to its fuel,and conflict increasesthe longer it continues.The more powerful individuals are,the stronger their anger will be;and the wealthier they are,the more their wrath will increase.
11 A hasty quarrel sparks a fire,and hasty conflict sheds blood.
12 If you blow on a spark, it will flame up,and if you spit on it, it will go out;nonetheless, both come outof your mouth.
13 A curse on slanderers and the deceitful,because they have destroyed manywho are at peace.
14 Slander has shaken up many people,scattered them from nation to nation,demolished mighty cities,and overthrown the housesof dignitaries.
15 Slander has driven outcourageous women,and it has deprived themof the rewards of their work.
16 Those who pay attention to slanderwill never find rest,nor will they live in peace.
17 The blow of a whip leaves a welt,but the blow of the tonguewill break bones.
18 Many have fallen by the edgeof the sword,but many more have fallenbecause of the tongue.
19 Happy is the personwho is protected from the tongue,who hasn’t endured its anger,who hasn’t pulled its yokeor been bound by its shackles.
20 Its yoke is made of iron,and its shackles are made of bronze.
21 The death it inflicts is a wicked death,and the grave is preferable to it.
22 It will never conquer the godly,and they won’t be burned by its flame.
23 Those who abandon the Lord willfall to it;it will burn within them,and it will never go out.It will be sent against them like a lion,and like a leopard it will mangle them.
24 aWatch out! Fence in your propertywith thorns,
25 band make a doorand a bolt for your mouth.
24 b Lock up your silver and gold;
25 amake a balance and a weightfor your words.
26 Pay attention, and don’t slipby your tongue;don’t fall in front of thosewho are just waiting to attack you.