Sirach 28:17–23

¹⁷The blow of a whip raises a welt,

but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.^*

¹⁸Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,

but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.^*

¹⁹Happy is the one who is protected from it,

who has not been exposed to its anger,

who has not borne its yoke,

and who has not been bound with its fetters.

²⁰For its yoke is a yoke of iron,

and its fetters are fetters of bronze;^*

²¹its death is an evil death,

and Hades is preferable to it.

²²It has no power over the godly;

they will not be burned in its flame.^*

²³Those 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.^*