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

³For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us: and we turn about their whole body.

⁴Behold also ships, whereas they are great and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the governor willeth.

⁵Even so the tongue is indeed a little member and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.

⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell.

⁷For every nature of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of the rest is tamed and hath been tamed, by the nature of man.

⁸But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men who are made after the likeness 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, out of the same hole, sweet and bitter water?

¹²Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear grapes? Or the vine, figs? So neither can the salt water yield sweet.

¹³Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge, among you? Let him shew, by a good contestation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴But if you have bitter zeal, and there be contention in your hearts: glory not and be not liars against the truth.

¹⁵For this is not wisdom, descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish.

¹⁶For where envying and contention is: there is inconstancy and every evil work.

¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation.

¹⁸And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace.

Chapter 4

From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences, which war in your members?

²You covet, and have not: you kill and envy and cannot obtain. You contend and war, and you have not: because you ask not.

³You ask and receive not: because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your concupiscences.

⁴Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world becometh an enemy of God.

⁵Or do you think that the scripture saith in vain: To envy doth the spirit covet which dwelleth in you?

⁶But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.

⁷Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil: and he will fly from you.

⁸Draw nigh to God: and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

⁹Be afflicted and mourn and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into sorrow.

¹⁰Be humbled in the sight of the Lord: and he will exalt you.

¹¹Detract not one another, my brethren. He that detracteth his brother, or he that judgeth his brother, detracteth the law and judgeth the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

¹²There is one lawgiver and judge, that is able to destroy and to deliver.

¹³But who art thou that judgest thy neighbour? Behold, now you that say: To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and there we will spend a year and will traffic and make our gain.

¹⁴Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow.

¹⁵For what is your life? It is a vapour which appeareth for a little while and afterwards shall vanish away. For that you should say: If the Lord will, and, If we shall live, we will do this or that.

¹⁶But now you rejoice in your arrogancies. All such rejoicing is wicked.

¹⁷To him therefore who knoweth to do good and doth it not, to him it is sin.

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