MY brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive a severer judgment. 2For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, he is a perfect man, and capable of reining in the whole body. 3Behold, we put bits into the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, though so great, and driven by tempestuous winds, are turned about by the smallest rudder, whithersoever the inclination of the pilot pleaseth. 5So also the tongue is a little member, and proudly vaunts. Behold how great a pile of wood, a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: in such manner is the tongue placed among our members, that it defileth all the body, and setteth on fire the circle of nature; and is set on fire of hell. 7For every species of wild beasts, and also of birds, of reptiles, and even of fishes, is tamed, and hath also been tamed by human ingenuity: 8but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless God even the Father; and with the same we curse men, though after the likeness of God. 10Out of the same mouth goeth forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be thus. 11Doth a fountain from the same aperture spout forth sweet water and bitter? 12Can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives; or a vine figs? so also can no fountain send forth salt water and sweet.
13Who is a wise man and intelligent among you, let him shew in a becoming conduct his works with the meekness of wisdom. 14But if ye have bitter envy and contention in your heart, boast not, and lie not against the truth. 15This is not the wisdom which cometh from above, but is earthly, sensual, diabolical. 16For where envy and contention dwell, there is tumult and every vile deed. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, meek, easily persuadable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and void of dissimulation. 18But the fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for those who are peacemakers.
[CHAP. IV.]
FROM whence come wars and conflicts among you? spring they not from hence, even from your passions, which war in your members? 2Ye eagerly covet, yet have not: ye murder, and are envious, yet cannot obtain your object; ye wage war, but have not, because ye pray not. 3Ye ask, and receive nothing, because ye ask vilely, in order to consume it on your sensual appetites.
4Ye adulterers and adultresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity against God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is set down an enemy to God. 5Think ye that the scripture saith without meaning, The spirit which dwelleth in you strongly urges to envy? 6But he giveth mightier grace. Wherefore he saith, “God sets himself against the proud, but giveth grace to the lowly[147].”
7Be in subjection then to God. Resist the devil, and he will fly from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Make clean your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. 9Be bitterly afflicted and lament, and let your tears run down; let your laughter be converted into mourning, and your joy into dejection. 10Be humbled in the presence of God, so he will exalt you.
11Traduce not one another, brethren. He that traduceth his brother, and judgeth his brother, traduceth the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but as judge. 12There is one lawgiver, who can save or destroy: who art thou that judgest another man?
13Come now, ye that talk, To-day or to-morrow we will go to such a town, and do business there during one year, and traffic, and make great profits: 14though ye know nothing of what shall be to-morrow. For what is your life? It is but a vapour which appeareth for a little while, and then vanishes away. 15Instead of your saying, If the Lord pleases, and we are alive, then we will do this or that thing. 16But now ye glory in your proud boastings: all such glorying is wicked. 17Therefore if a man knoweth how to act properly, and doth not, he is criminal.
[CHAP. V.]
COME now, ye rich men, let your tears run down, howling over your miseries which are coming upon you. 2Your wealth is corrupted, and your robes are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver is cankered with rust; and the rust upon them is a testimony against you, and shall eat into your flesh as fire. Ye have heaped up treasures in the last days. 4Behold, the wages of the workmen who have mowed down your fields, which is kept back by you from them, crieth out: and the loud moans of the reapers are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.