James 3:6-18 ▼

6 The tongue is a fire, and the sinful world like a forest: that very tongue, while it is among our members, can defile our whole body, and set on fire the records of our race which have rolled down from the beginning: and in the end it is consumed by fire.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of creatures of the sea and of the land are under the subjugation of the will of man.

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

9 By it we bless the LORD and the Father; and by it we curse men, who are made in the image of God:

10 Out of the same mouth proceed curses and blessings. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Can there spring forth from the same fountain, both sweet water and bitter water?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olives? Or the vine, figs? likewise also salt water cannot be made sweet.

13 Who is wise among you and has training? let him prove his words by his good deeds, in the humbleness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying among you, or strife in your hearts, do not boast and do not lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom does not come from above, but it is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For wherever envy and strife are, there is confusion and every sort of evil.

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

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by the peacemakers.