Sirach 28:20-22

Good News Translation

^19-20 Count yourself lucky if you have been spared the experience of having irresponsible talk directed against you—if you have never had that iron yoke around your neck or those heavy chains on your legs. ²¹ Slander leads to a miserable death; but in fact, you'd be better off dead.

²² Devout people, however, cannot be overcome by slander; they cannot be burned by its flames.