Haweis - James - 3

3:1  MY brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive a severer judgment.

3:2  For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, he is a perfect man, and capable of reining in the whole body.

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

3:4  Behold also the ships, though so great, and driven by tempestuous winds, are turned about by the smallest rudder, whithersoever the inclination of the pilot pleaseth.

3:5  So also the tongue is a little member, and proudly vaunts. Behold how great a pile of wood, a little fire kindleth!

3:6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: in such manner is the tongue placed among our members, that it defileth all the body, and setteth on fire the circle of nature; and is set on fire of hell.

3:7  For every species of wild beasts, and also of birds, of reptiles, and even of fishes, is tamed, and hath also been tamed by human ingenuity:

3:8  but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

3:9  With it we bless God even the Farther; and with the same we curse men, though after the likeness of God.

3:10  Out of the same mouth goeth forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be thus.

3:11  Doth a fountain from the same aperture spout forth sweet water and bitter?

3:12  Can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives; or a vine figs? so also can no fountain send forth salt water and sweet.

3:13  Who is a wise man and intelligent among you, let him shew in a becoming conduct his works with the meekness of wisdom.

3:14  But if ye have bitter envy and contention in your heart, boast not, and lie not against the truth.

3:15  This is not the wisdom which cometh from above, but is earthly, sensual, diabolical.

3:16  For where envy and contention dwell, there is tumult and every vile deed.

3:17  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, meek, easily persuadable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and void of dissimulation.

3:18  But the fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for those who are peacemakers.