James 3

¹BE ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgement.

²For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word; this is a perfect man. He is able also with bridle to turn about the whole body.

³And if we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we turn about all their body also.

⁴And behold, the ships, whereas they be great, and are driven of strong winds: yet are they turned about with a little stern whither the violence of the director will.

⁵So the tongue also is certes a little member, and vaunteth great things. Behold how much fire what a great wood it kindleth?

⁶And the tongue, is fire, a whole world of iniquity. The tongue is set among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, inflamed of hell.

⁷For all nature of beasts & fowls & serpents & of the rest is tamed & hath been tamed by the nature of man:

⁸But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹By it we bless God and the Father, & by it we curse men which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰Out of the self-same mouth proceedeth blessing & cursing. These things must not be so done, my brethren.

¹¹Doth the fountain give forth out of one hole sweet and sour water?

¹²Can, my brethren, the fig-tree yield grapes, or the vine, figs? So neither can the salt water yield sweet.

¹³Who is wise and hath knowledge among you? Let him shew by good conversation his working in mildness of wisdom.

¹⁴But if you have bitter zeal, and there be contentions in your hearts; glory not and be not liars against the truth.

¹⁵For this is not wisdom descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish.

¹⁶For where zeal and contention is, there is inconstancy, and every perverse work.

¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above, first certes is chaste; then peaceable, modest, suasible, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without simulation.

¹⁸And the fruit of justice, in peace is sowed, to them that make peace.