Chapter 28

28. He that revenges shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance, for forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he has done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest. Man bears malice against man, and dares seek favor from the Lord, and he shows no mercy to a man, yet for his own sins doth he ask forgiveness? If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for his sins? Remember thy end, and let enmity cease, for corruption and death are awaiting; remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour, and remember the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance. Abstain from strife, and you shall diminish your sins, for a hasty man kindles strife, and a sinful man disquiets friends, and makes debate among them that be at peace. As the matter of the fire is, so it burns, and as a man's strength is, so is his wrath, and according to his riches, so he increases his anger, and a hasty contention kindles a fire, for the raging of a fire shall burn without remedy, and the mouth of the ungodly shall be his downfall. A backbiting tongue has disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation, and overthrown mighty cities, and pulled down the houses of great men; a backbiting tongue has cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours. Whoso hearkens unto it shall never find rest, nor dwell quietly, for the stroke of the whip makes marks in the flesh, but the stroke of the tongue breaks the bones, and many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen by the tongue. Well is he that is defended from it, and has not passed through the venom thereof, who has not drawn the yoke thereof, nor been bound in her chains, for the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the chains thereof are chains of brass. The death thereof is an evil death, and the grave were better than it, for it shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof, but such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it, and it shall burn in them, and shall never be quenched. It shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard; fence your possession about with thorns, and put a door and bar to your mouth, and bind up your silver and gold, and weigh your words in a balance, and make a hedge about your ears, and beware that you slip not by it, lest you fall before him that lies in wait.