Ecclesiasticus 28

1He that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance.

Qui vindicari vult, a Domino inveniet vindictam, et peccata illius servans servabit.

2Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurt thee: and then shall thy sins be forgiven to thee when thou prayest.

Relinque proximo tuo nocenti te, et tunc deprecanti tibi peccata solventur.

3Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of God?

Homo homini reservat iram, et a Deo quærit medelam:

4He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he entreat for his own sins?

in hominem similem sibi non habet misericordiam, et de peccatis suis deprecatur.

5He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins?

Ipse cum caro sit reservat iram, et propitiationem petit a Deo: quis exorabit pro delictis illius?

6Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease:

Memento novissimorum, et desine inimicari:

7For corruption and death hang over in his commandments.

tabitudo enim et mors imminent in mandatis ejus.

8Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour.

Memorare timorem Dei, et non irascaris proximo.

9Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the ignorance of thy neighbour.

Memorare testamentum Altissimi, et despice ignorantiam proximi.

10Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins.

Abstine te a lite, et minues peccata.

11For a passionate man kindleth strife, and a sinful man will trouble his friends, and bring in debate in the midst of them that are at peace.

Homo enim iracundus incendit litem, et vir peccator turbabit amicos, et in medio pacem habentium immittet inimicitiam.

12For as the wood of the forest is, so the fire burneth, and as a man’s strength is, so shall his anger be, and according to his riches he shall increase his anger.

Secundum enim ligna silvæ sic ignis exardescit: et secundum virtutem hominis sic iracundia illius erit, et secundum substantiam suam exaltabit iram suam.

13A hasty contention kindleth a fire and a hasty quarrel sheddeth blood and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death.

Certamen festinatum incendit ignem, et lis festinans effundit sanguinem: et lingua testificans adducit mortem.

14If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of the mouth.

Si sufflaveris in scintillam, quasi ignis exardebit: et si exspueris super illam, extinguetur: utraque ex ore proficiscuntur.

15The whisperer and the double tongue is accursed: for he hath troubled many that were at peace.

Susurro et bilinguis maledictus, multos enim turbabit pacem habentes.

16The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and scattered them from nation to nation.

Lingua tertia multos commovit, et dispersit illos de gente in gentem.

17It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath overthrown the houses of great men.

Civitates muratas divitum destruxit, et domus magnatorum effodit.

18It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone strong nations.

Virtutes populorum concidit, et gentes fortes dissolvit.

19The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women, and deprived them of their labours.

Lingua tertia mulieres viratas ejecit, et privavit illas laboribus suis.

20He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither shall he have a friend in whom he may repose.

Qui respicit illam non habebit requiem, nec habebit amicum in quo requiescat.

21The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the tongue will break the bones.

Flagelli plaga livorem facit: plaga autem linguæ comminuet ossa.

22Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have perished by their own tongue.

Multi ceciderunt in ore gladii: sed non sic quasi qui interierunt per linguam suam.

23Blessed is he that is defended from a wicked tongue, that hath not passed into the wrath thereof, and that hath not drawn the yoke thereof, and hath not been bound in its bands.

Beatus qui tectus est a lingua nequam, qui in iracundiam illius non transivit, et qui non attraxit jugum illius, et in vinculis ejus non est ligatus:

24For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of brass.

jugum enim illius jugum ferreum est, et vinculum illius vinculum æreum est;

25The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is preferable to it.

mors illius mors nequissima: et utilis potius infernus quam illa.

26Its continuance shall not be for a long time, but it shall possess the ways of the unjust: and the just shall not be burnt with its flame.

Perseverantia illius non permanebit, sed obtinebit vias injustorum, et in flamma sua non comburet justos.

27They that forsake God shall fall into it, and it shall burn in them, and shall not be quenched, and it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and as a leopard it shall tear them.

Qui relinquunt Deum incident in illam, et exardebit in illis, et non extinguetur, et immittetur in illos quasi leo, et quasi pardus lædet illos.

28Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue, and make doors and bars to thy mouth.

Sepi aures tuas spinis: linguam nequam noli audire: et ori tuo facito ostia et seras.

29Melt down thy gold and silver, and make a balance for thy words, and a just bridle for thy mouth:

Aurum tuum et argentum tuum confla, et verbis tuis facito stateram, et frenos ori tuo rectos:

30And take heed lest thou slip with thy tongue, and fall in the sight of thy enemies who lie in wait for thee, and thy fall be incurable unto death.

et attende ne forte labaris in lingua, et cadas in conspectu inimicorum insidiantium tibi, et sit casus tuus insanabilis in mortem.