1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive greater judgment.
2 For we all stumble in many things. If any man does not stumble in word, this is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold we put bits into the mouths of horses for them to obey us, and we guide about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, being so great and driven by fierce winds, are guided about by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the man who steers determines.
5 So also the tongue is a little body-part, and boasts greatly. Behold a little fire, how much wood it kindles.
6 And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. Thus, the tongue is made to lead among our body-parts, defiling the whole body, and setting the cycle of nature on fire, and being set on fire by hell.
7 For every species, both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human species.
8 But no man is able to tame the tongue of men, an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 By it we bless the God and Father, and by it we curse men, who were made according to a likeness of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and curse. My brothers, these things ought not to happen this way.
11 Does the spring pour out from the same opening the sweet and the bitter?
12 A fig tree, my brothers, cannot make olives, or a grapevine figs. In the same way, no one spring makes water salty and sweet.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show from his good behavior his works in mildness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast, and do not lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not descending from above, but is earthly, world-soul, demonic.
16 For where envy and selfish ambition are, there is instability and every evil deed.
17 But the wisdom from above is indeed first pure, then peaceful, meek, easily entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and non-hypocritical.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace to those who make peace.
1 My brethren be not every ma a master remembringe how that we shall receave the more damnacion:
2 for in many thinges we synne all. Yf a man synne not in worde the same is a parfecte ma and able to tame all the body.
3 Beholde we put bittes into ye horses mouthes that they shuld obeye vs and we turne aboute all the body.
4 Beholde also the shyppes which though they be so gret and are dryven of fearce windes yet are they turned about with a very smale helme whither soever the violence of the governer wyll.
5 Even so the tonge is a lyttell member and bosteth great thinges. Beholde how gret a thinge a lyttell fyre kyndleth
6 and the tonge is fyre and a worlde of wyckednes. So is the tonge set amonge oure members that it defileth the whole body and setteth a fyre all that we have of nature and is it selfe set a fyre even of hell.
7 All the natures of beastes and of byrdes and of serpentes and thinges of ye see are meked and tamed of the nature of man.
8 But the tonge can no man tame. Yt is an vntuely evyll full of deedly poyson.
9 Therwith blesse we God the father and therwith cursse we me which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of one mouth proceadeth blessynge and cursynge. My brethren these thinges ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountayne sende forth at one place swete water and bytter also?
12 Can the fygge tree my Brethren beare olive beries: other a vyne beare fygges?
13 So can no fountayne geve bothe salt water and fresshe also. If eny man be wyse and endued with learnynge amonge you let him shewe the workes of his good conversacio in meknes that ys coupled with wisdome.
14 But Yf ye have bitter envyinge and stryfe in youre hertes reioyce not: nether be lyars agaynst the trueth.
15 This wisdome descedeth not from a boue: but is erthy and naturall and divelisshe.
16 For where envyinge and stryfe is there is stablenes and all maner of evyll workes.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is fyrst pure then peasable gentle and easy to be entreated full of mercy and good frutes without iudgynge and without simulacio:
18 yee and the frute of rightewesnes is sowen in peace of them that mayntene peace.