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28The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance,
   for he keeps a strict account of^* their sins.
² Forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done,
   and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
³ Does anyone harbour anger against another,
   and expect healing from the Lord?
⁴ If someone has no mercy towards another like himself,
   can he then seek pardon for his own sins?
⁵ If a mere mortal harbours wrath,
   who will make an atoning sacrifice for his sins?
⁶ Remember the end of your life, and set enmity aside;
   remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.
⁷ Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbour;
   remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults.

⁸ Refrain from strife, and your sins will be fewer;
   for the hot-tempered kindle strife,
⁹ and the sinner disrupts friendships
   and sows discord among those who are at peace.
¹⁰ In 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.
¹¹ A hasty quarrel kindles a fire,
   and a hasty dispute sheds blood.

The Evil Tongue

¹² If 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.

¹³ Curse the gossips and the double-tongued,
   for they destroy the peace of many.
¹⁴ Slander^* has shaken many,
   and scattered them from nation to nation;
it has destroyed strong cities,
   and overturned the houses of the great.
¹⁵ Slander^* has driven virtuous women from their homes,
   and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
¹⁶ Those who pay heed to slander^* will not find rest,
   nor will they settle down in peace.
¹⁷ The blow of a whip raises a welt,
   but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
¹⁸ Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,
   but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
¹⁹ Happy is 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.
²⁰ For its yoke is a yoke of iron,
   and its fetters are fetters of bronze;
²¹ its death is an evil death,
   and Hades is preferable to it.
²² It has no power over the godly;
   they will not be burned in its flame.
²³ Those 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.
^24a As you fence in your property with thorns,
^25b   so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
^24b As you lock up your silver and gold,
^25a   so make balances and scales for your words.
²⁶ Take care not to err with your tongue,^*
   and fall victim to one lying in wait.