The .xxviii. Chapter.
1 We ought not to desire vengeaunce, but to forgeue the offence. 13 Of the vices of the tongue, and of the daungers therof.
[unspec A] 1 HE * 1.1that seketh ven∣geaunce, shal find ven∣geaunce of the Lorde, which shal surely kepe hym his sinnes.
2 * 1.2Forgeue thy neygh∣bour the hurt that he hath done thee, and so shal thy sinnes be forgeuen thee also when thou prayest.
3 A man that beareth hatred against ano∣ther, how dare he desire forgeuenesse of God?
4 He that sheweth no mercie to a man which is like him selfe, how dare he aske forgeuenesse of his sinnes?
5 If he that is but fleshe, beareth hatred and kepeth it, who will intreate for his sinnes?
6 Remember the ende, and let enmitie passe whiche seketh death and destruc∣tion, and abyde thou in the commaunde∣mentes.
[unspec B] 7 Remember the commaundementes, so shalt thou not be rigorous ouer thy neyghbour: Thinke vpon the couenaunt of the hyghest, and forgeue thy neygh∣bours ignoraunce.
8 * 1.3Beware of stryfe, and thou shalt make thy sinnes fewer.
9 For an angry man kindleth variaunce: and the vngodly disquieteth friendes, and putteth discorde among them that be at peace.
10 * 1.4The more wood there is, the more ve∣hement is the fire, and the mightier that men be, the greater is the wrath: accor∣ding to his riches his anger increaseth, and the longer the stryfe endureth, the more it burneth.
11 And hastie brawling kindleth a fyre, and an hastie stryfe sheddeth blood: A tongue also that beareth false witnesse, bringeth death.
12 If thou blow the sparke it shall burne, yf thou spyt vpon it, it shall go foorth, and both these come out of the mouth.
13 * 1.5The sclaunderer and doubble tongued is cursed: for many one that be friendes, setteth he at variaunce.
14 The * 1.6 thirde tongue hath disquieted [unspec C] many one, and dryuen them from one lande to another: Strong cities of the riche hath it broken downe, and ouer∣throwen the houses of great men: The strength of the people hath it brought downe, and ben the decay of mightie na∣tions.
15 The thirde tongue hath cast out many an honest woman, and robbed them of their labours.
16 Who so hearkeneth vnto such, shal ne∣uer finde rest, and neuer dwell safely.
17 The stroke of the rod maketh printes in the skinne: but the stroke of the tongue smyteth the bones in sunder.
18 There be many that haue perished with the sworde: but many mo thorow the tongue.
19 Well is him that is kept from an euyll tongue, and commeth not in the anger thereof, which draweth not the yoke of such, and is not bounde in the bandes of it.
20 For the yoke therof is of yron, and the bande of it of “ 1.7 steele.
21 The death therof is a very euyl death: hell were better for one, then such a [unspec D] tongue.
22 But the fire of it may not oppresse them that feare God, and the flambe thereof may not burne them.
23 Such as forsake the Lorde, shall fall therin, and it shall burne them, and no man shall be able to quenche it: It shall fall vpon them as a lion, and deuour them as a leoparde.
24 Thou hedgest thy goodes with thornes: why doest thou not rather make doores and barres for thy mouth?