---
title: "Sirach 28 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/sirach/28/
description: "Lessons against revenge and quarrels. The evils of the tongue. Sirach 28 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Sirach 28

Sirach 28 is chapter 28 of 51 in the Book of Sirach. Here are all 30 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> Lessons against revenge and quarrels. The evils of the tongue.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Sirach 28 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. Whoever wishes for vengeance will find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely be attentive to his sins.
2. Forgive your neighbor, if he has harmed you, and then your sins will be forgiven you when you pray.
3. A man holds on to anger against another man, and does he then seek a remedy from God?
4. He has no mercy on a man like himself, and does he then entreat for his own sins?
5. He who is but flesh holds on to anger, and does he then request forgiveness from God? Who can obtain pardon for his sins in this way?
6. Remember your very end, and let animosities cease.
7. For corruption and death are suspended over his commandments.
8. Remember the fear of God, and do not be angry with your neighbor.
9. Remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook the ignorant offenses of your neighbor.
10. Refrain from strife, and you will diminish your sins.
11. For an ill-tempered man enflames conflict, and a sinful man troubles his friends, and he casts hostility into the midst of those who have peace.
12. For the fire burns according to the wood of the forest. And the anger of a man burns according to the strength of the man. And according to his resources, he will exalt his anger.
13. A hasty contention kindles a fire. And a hasty quarrel sheds blood. And an accusatory tongue brings death.
14. If you blow on a spark, it will increase to a fire. But if you spit on it, it will be extinguished. Both of these proceed from the mouth.
15. The double-tongued whisperer is accursed. For he has disturbed many who had peace.
16. A third tongue has stirred up many, and has scattered them from nation to nation.
17. It has destroyed the walled cities of the wealthy, and has undermined the houses of the great.
18. It has cut down the virtues of the peoples, and has broken strong nations.
19. A third tongue has cast down virtuous women, and has deprived them of their labors.
20. Whoever favors it will not have rest, nor will he have a friend in whom he may find peace.
21. The wound of a whip causes a bruise, but the wound of the tongue will crush the bones.
22. Many have fallen by the mouth of the sword, but not as many as have perished by their own tongue.
23. Blessed is he who is protected from a wicked tongue, who has not gone over to its wrath, and has not pulled its yoke, and has not been bound by its chains.
24. For its yoke is a yoke of iron. And its chains are chains of brass.
25. Its death is a most wicked death. And hell is more useful than it is.
26. Its continuance will not be permanent, but it will take hold of the ways of the unjust. And the just will not be burned by its flame.
27. Those who abandon God will fall by it, and it will burn within them and not be quenched. And it will be sent upon them, like a lion, and it will wound them, like a leopard.
28. Hedge your ears with thorns. Do not be willing to listen to a wicked tongue. And make doors and bars for your mouth.
29. Melt down your gold and your silver. And make a scale for your words, and an upright bridle for your mouth.
30. And be attentive, lest perhaps you may slip with your tongue, and fall in the sight of your enemies, who are lying in wait for you, and then your fall may be incurable unto death.

## Sirach 28 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Qui vindicari vult, a Domino inveniet vindictam, et peccata illius servans servabit.
2. Relinque proximo tuo nocenti te, et tunc deprecanti tibi peccata solventur.
3. Homo homini reservat iram, et a Deo quærit medelam:
4. in hominem similem sibi non habet misericordiam, et de peccatis suis deprecatur.
5. Ipse cum caro sit reservat iram, et propitiationem petit a Deo: quis exorabit pro delictis illius?
6. Memento novissimorum, et desine inimicari:
7. tabitudo enim et mors imminent in mandatis ejus.
8. Memorare timorem Dei, et non irascaris proximo.
9. Memorare testamentum Altissimi, et despice ignorantiam proximi.
10. Abstine te a lite, et minues peccata.
11. Homo enim iracundus incendit litem, et vir peccator turbabit amicos, et in medio pacem habentium immittet inimicitiam.
12. Secundum enim ligna silvæ sic ignis exardescit: et secundum virtutem hominis sic iracundia illius erit, et secundum substantiam suam exaltabit iram suam.
13. Certamen festinatum incendit ignem, et lis festinans effundit sanguinem: et lingua testificans adducit mortem.
14. Si sufflaveris in scintillam, quasi ignis exardebit: et si exspueris super illam, extinguetur: utraque ex ore proficiscuntur.
15. Susurro et bilinguis maledictus, multos enim turbabit pacem habentes.
16. Lingua tertia multos commovit, et dispersit illos de gente in gentem.
17. Civitates muratas divitum destruxit, et domus magnatorum effodit.
18. Virtutes populorum concidit, et gentes fortes dissolvit.
19. Lingua tertia mulieres viratas ejecit, et privavit illas laboribus suis.
20. Qui respicit illam non habebit requiem, nec habebit amicum in quo requiescat.
21. Flagelli plaga livorem facit: plaga autem linguæ comminuet ossa.
22. Multi ceciderunt in ore gladii: sed non sic quasi qui interierunt per linguam suam.
23. 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:
24. jugum enim illius jugum ferreum est, et vinculum illius vinculum æreum est;
25. mors illius mors nequissima: et utilis potius infernus quam illa.
26. Perseverantia illius non permanebit, sed obtinebit vias injustorum, et in flamma sua non comburet justos.
27. Qui relinquunt Deum incident in illam, et exardebit in illis, et non extinguetur, et immittetur in illos quasi leo, et quasi pardus lædet illos.
28. Sepi aures tuas spinis: linguam nequam noli audire: et ori tuo facito ostia et seras.
29. Aurum tuum et argentum tuum confla, et verbis tuis facito stateram, et frenos ori tuo rectos:
30. et attende ne forte labaris in lingua, et cadas in conspectu inimicorum insidiantium tibi, et sit casus tuus insanabilis in mortem.

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 7: Supply the sentence out of the Greek thus: Remember corruption and death, and abide in the commandments.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).