James 3

¹ Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.

² For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.

⁴ Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

⁵ So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!

⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.

⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind,

⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.

¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.

¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish?

¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

¹⁵ This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.

¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.

¹⁸ And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.