The Tongue
1 My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. 2 All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body.
3 By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. 4 It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. 5 Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.
It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! 6 The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person's entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. 8 But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.
9-10 My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn't right. 11 Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? Does fresh water come from a well full of salt water?
Wisdom from Above
13 Are any of you wise or sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do. 14 But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and selfishness, don't brag or lie to cover up the truth. 15 This kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It is earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself. 16 Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things. 17 But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. 18 When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receiue the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we sinne all. If any man sinne not in word, he is a perfect man, and able to bridle all the body. 3 Beholde, we put bittes into the horses mouthes, that they should obey vs, and we turne about all their bodie. 4 Behold also the shippes, which though they be so great, and are driuen of fierce windes, yet are they turned about with a very small rudder, whither soeuer the gouernour listeth. 5 Euen so the tongue is a litle member, and boasteth of great things: beholde, howe great a thing a litle fire kindleth. 6 And the tongue is fire, yea, a worlde of wickednesse: so is the tongue set 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. 7 For the whole nature of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping things, and things of the sea is tamed, and hath bene tamed of the nature of man. 8 But the tongue can no man tame. It is an vnruly euill, full of deadly poyson. 9 Therewith blesse we God euen the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of one mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing: my brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doeth a fountaine send forth at one place sweete water and bitter? 12 Can ye figge tree, my brethren, bring forth oliues, either a vine figges? so can no fountaine make both salt water and sweete. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew by good conuersation his workes in meekenesse of wisdome. 14 But if ye haue bitter enuying and strife in your hearts, reioyce not, neither be liars against the trueth. 15 This wisedome descendeth not from aboue, but is earthly, sensuall, and deuilish. 16 For where enuying and strife is, there is sedition, and all maner of euill workes. 17 But the wisedome that is from aboue, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easie to be intreated, full of mercie and good fruites, without iudging, and without hipocrisie. 18 And the fruite of righteousnesse is sowen in peace, of them that make peace.