Tiago 3

¹ Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

² For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.

⁴ Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of evil among the members of the body. The tongue corrupts our whole person, sets the whole course of our life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷ For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.

⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.

¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.

¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?

¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his deeds in the humility of wisdom.

¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

¹⁵ This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or hypocrisy.

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