James 3

¹Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will receive a more severe verdict. ²For we all trip up in many ways. If someone does not trip up in what they say, that person is a mature man, capable of holding his whole body in check as with a bridle.

³If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴Look at ships also: though they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the steersman desires. ⁵In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it boasts of great things. See how small a fire sets ablaze such a large forest! ⁶And the tongue is a fire. The tongue represents the world of injustice among our parts, polluting the whole body and setting on fire the entire course of human existence, being itself set on fire by Gehenna. ⁷For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, is being tamed and has been tamed by the human species, ⁸but no human being is able to tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly venom. ⁹With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who have been made “according to the likeness of God.” ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, it is not right for things to be this way. ¹¹Does a spring pour out both sweet and bitter water from the same opening? ¹²Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt spring produce sweet water.

¹³Who among you is wise and understanding? Let them show their works by their good way of life, done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have bitter jealousy and partisan ambition in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵This is not the wisdom coming down from above; rather, it is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶For where jealousy and partisan ambition exist, there is instability and every kind of mean-spirited practice. ¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, undivided, and sincere. ¹⁸And the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace.