James 3

¹My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

²For in many things we all offend. If any one offend not in speech, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

³For when we put the bits into the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us, we turn about also their whole body.

⁴Behold also the ships, which, though they are so great, and driven by fierce winds, are yet turned about with a very small rudder, whithersoever the steersman chooseth.

⁵So also the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindleth!

⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity! The tongue among our members is that which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of life, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷For every kind of beasts and of birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed and hath been tamed by mankind;

⁸but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men, who have been made after the likeness of God;

¹⁰out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹Doth a fountain from the same opening send forth sweet water and bitter?

¹²Can a fig-tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a vine, figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.

¹³Who is wise and endued with knowledge among you P let him show out of a good course of conduct his works in meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴But if ye have bitter rivalry and strife in your hearts, do not glory and lie against the truth.

¹⁵This wisdom is not that which descendeth from above, but earthly, sensual, devilish.

¹⁶For where there is rivalry and strife, there is confusion and every evil work.

¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy.

¹⁸And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3

¹My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

²For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

³Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

⁴Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

⁵Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

⁷For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

⁸But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

¹²Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

¹³Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

¹⁵This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

¹⁶For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

¹⁸And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.