The Letter of James
3 Not many of YOU should become teachers,+ my brothers, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.+ 2 For we all stumble many times.+ If anyone does not stumble in word,+ this one is a perfect man,+ able to bridle also [his] whole body. 3 If we put bridles+ in the mouths of horses for them to obey us,+ we manage also their whole body. 4 Look! Even boats, although they are so big and are driven by hard winds, are steered by a very small rudder+ to where the inclination of the man at the helm wishes.
5 So, too, the tongue is a little member and yet makes great brags.+ Look! How little a fire it takes to set so great a woodland on fire! 6 Well, the tongue is a fire.+ The tongue is constituted a world of unrighteousness among our members, for it spots up all the body+ and sets the wheel of natural life aflame and it is set aflame by Ge·henʹna.* 7 For every species of wild beast as well as bird and creeping thing and sea creature is to be tamed and has been tamed by humankind.+ 8 But the tongue, not one of mankind can get it tamed. An unruly injurious thing, it is full of death-dealing poison.+ 9 With it we bless Jehovah,*+ even [the] Father,+ and yet with it we curse+ men who have come into existence “in the likeness of God.”+ 10 Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing.
It is not proper, my brothers, for these things to go on occurring this way.+ 11 A fountain+ does not cause the sweet and the bitter to bubble out of the same opening, does it? 12 My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives or a vine figs, can it?+ Neither can salt water produce sweet water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among YOU? Let him show out of his fine conduct his works+ with a mildness that belongs to wisdom. 14 But if YOU have bitter jealousy+ and contentiousness+ in YOUR hearts, do not be bragging*+ and lying against the truth.+ 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above,+ but is [the] earthly,+ animal,* demonic.+ 16 For where jealousy+ and contentiousness are, there disorder* and every vile thing are.+
17 But the wisdom+ from above is first of all chaste,+ then peaceable,+ reasonable,*+ ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits,+ not making partial distinctions,+ not hypocritical.+ 18 Moreover, the fruit+ of righteousness+ has its seed sown under peaceful+ conditions* for* those who are making peace.+