James 3

King James Bible	Catholic Public Domain Bible
¹ My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.	¹ My brothers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment.
² For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.	² For we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around.
³ Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.	³ For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around.
⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.	⁴ Consider also the ships, which, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will.
⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!	⁵ So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest.
⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.	⁶ And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell.
⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:	⁷ For the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature.
⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.	⁸ But no man is able to rule over the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.	⁹ By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God.
¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.	¹⁰ From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!
¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?	¹¹ Does a fountain emit, out of the same opening, both sweet and bitter water?
¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.	¹² My brothers, can the fig tree yield grapes? Or the vine, figs? Then neither is salt water able to produce fresh water.
¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.	¹³ Who is wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.
¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.	¹⁴ But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth.
¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.	¹⁵ For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical.
¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.	¹⁶ For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work.
¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.	¹⁷ But within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness.
¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.	¹⁸ And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace.