James 3–4

My brethren, ^abe not many ^bmasters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. ²For ^cin many things we ^doffend all. ^eIf any man ^doffend not in word, ^fthe same is a ^gperfect man, and able also ^hto bridle the whole body. ³Behold, ⁱwe put ^hbits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ⁵Even so the tongue is a little member, and ^kboasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth. ⁶And ^lthe tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue amongst our members, that ^mit defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and ⁿit is set on fire of ^ohell. ⁷For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: ⁸but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, ^pfull of deadly poison. ⁹Therewith bless we ^qGod, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, ^rwhich are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. ¹¹Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? ¹²Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

^13sWho is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you? let him ^tshew out of a good ^uconversation his works ^vwith meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴But if ye have bitter ^wenvying and ^xstrife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom descendeth not ^yfrom above, ^zbut is earthly, sensual, devilish. ¹⁶For where ^wenvying and ^xstrife is, there is confusion and every evil work. ¹⁷But ^zthe wisdom that is ^yfrom above is first pure, then ^apeaceable, ^bgentle, and easy to be intreated, ^cfull of mercy and good fruits, ^dwithout partiality, and ^ewithout hypocrisy. ¹⁸And ^afthe fruit of righteousness is sown ^agin peace of them that make peace.

IV.From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts ^athat war in your members? ²Ye lust, and have not: ye ^bkill, and ^cdesire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. ^3dYe ask, and receive not, ^ebecause ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. ^4fYe adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that ^gthe friendship of the world is ^henmity with God? ⁱwhosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. ⁵Do ye think that ^kthe scripture saith in vain, ^lthe spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? ⁶But ^mhe giveth more grace. Wherefore ⁿhe saith, ^oGod resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. ^7opSubmit yourselves therefore to God. ^qResist the devil, and he will flee from you. ^8rDraw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. ^sCleanse your hands, ye sinners; and ^tpurify your hearts, ye ^udouble minded. ⁹Be afflicted, and ^vmourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. ^10pwHumble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

^11xSpeak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and ^yjudgeth his brother, ^zspeaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a ^adoer of the law, but a judge. ¹²There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and ^bto destroy: ^cwho art thou that judgest another?

^13dGo to now, ye that say, ^eTo day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and ^fcontinue there a year, and ^gbuy and sell, and get gain: ¹⁴whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is your life? ^hIt is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. ¹⁵For that ye ought to say, ⁱIf the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. ¹⁶But now ye ^jrejoice in your ^kboastings: ^lall such ^mrejoicing is evil. ¹⁷Therefore ⁿto him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

V.