James 3
- My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
- For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
- Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
- Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
- Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
- And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
- For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
- But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
- With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
- Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
- Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
- Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
- Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
- But if you have bitter envy and self–seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
- This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
- For where envy and self–seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
- But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
- Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.