¹ My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater judgment.¹

1. condemnation: or, judgment

² For in many things we all offend. If any man stumble not in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

³ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they are so great, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small helm, wherever the pilot willeth.

⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!¹

1. a matter: or, wood

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 from hell.¹

1. course: Gr. wheel

⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of creatures in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind:¹²

1. kind: Gr. nature
2. mankind: Gr. nature of man

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With it we bless God, even the Father; and with it we curse men, who are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?¹

1. place: or, hole

¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? or a vine, figs? so no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show by a good behaviour his works with meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.¹

1. sensual: or, natural

¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.¹

1. confusion: Gr. tumult, or, unquietness

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.¹

1. partiality: or, wrangling

¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by them that make peace.