Chapter 10
Be patient, O man, with your neighbor and your brother.
Many men are far short in righteousness, and without strength to accomplish to the extent the mind conceives;
And suffer lamentably for having done wrong, with none to relieve them;
For which reason you shall provide them honorable comfort.
In ancient days, such ones confessed to a priest, and he pardoned them, by which they were quieted and relieved of great distress.
In a later time, it was said: Confess one another.
But in this day neither of these is compatible with the intelligence of those who shall be of Jehovih’s kingdom.
If, then, a man has remorse for having wronged a brother or neighbor, he shall acknowledge it so to that member, and this shall be restitution, even as if the wrong had not been committed.
But if he has wronged the community, then he shall acknowledge it to the whole assembly, and that shall be restitution, even as if the wrong had not been committed.
And in either case he shall take to himself no further sorrow, remorse or shame, nor shall any member ever speak of the matter afterward, except to comfort him.
But in all cases confession shall be made in the name of Jehovih, and forgiveness likewise. But whoever seeks to justify himself, or to make it appear that he was only partly culpable, or that another led him into it—that man shall not be forgiven.
If he were led into it, then he who led him knows it and shall exonerate him.
Whoever Jehovih has created in proximity as to time, country, place and association— the same shall not be far distant on many occasions in the next world. And in time to come they shall be as if in a house of glass, and all the deeds done while in mortality shall be read as if in an open book.
For which reason you shall not linger by the wayside when you have wronged any man or the community, but go quickly and confess, so that your spirit becomes pure in the sight of Jehovih.
Though you grieve, saying: Shall I humble myself? || I say to you this is Godliness, for it is the purification of yourself, and the beginning of power.
But if a man wrongs himself, as by pollution, dissipation, or otherwise, this is sin against Jehovih; and he shall confess privately to Him, making a covenant with his Creator to do so no more, which, if he keeps, then the wrong is forgiven him, and he shall have peace of soul.