1: Be not many [of you] teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment. 2: For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3: Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also. 4: Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth. 5: So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! 6: And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. 7: For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind. 8: But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison. 9: Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: 10: out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11: Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter? 12: Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt water yield sweet. 13: Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. 14: But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. 15: This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16: For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. 17: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. 18: And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.
