Taming the Tongue

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.

Wisdom from Above

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.