雅各書

第三章

要制伏舌頭
1 我的弟兄們，你們不應該有太多人作教師，因為知道我們作教師的將受更嚴厲的審判。
2 我們在許多的事上都有過錯，假如有人在言語上沒有過錯，他就是完全的人，也能夠控制全身。
3 我們若把嚼環扣入馬嘴，使它們馴服，就能駕馭它們的全身。
4 試看，船隻雖然甚大，又被狂風催逼，舵手只用小小的舵，就可以隨意操縱。
5 照樣，舌頭雖然是個小肢體，卻會說誇大的話。試看，星星之火，可以燎原；
6 舌頭就是火，在我們百體中，是個不義的世界，能污穢全身，把整個生命在運轉中焚燒起來，而且是被地獄之火點燃的。
7 各類飛禽、走獸、昆蟲、水族，都可以馴服，而且都已經被人類制伏了；
8 可是沒有人能夠制伏舌頭；它是喋喋不休的惡物，充滿了致命的毒素。
9 我們用它來稱頌我們的主和天父，又用它來咒詛照　神的形象被造的人。
10 同一張嘴竟然又稱頌主，又咒詛人；我的弟兄們，這是不應該的！
11 同一泉眼裡能夠湧出甜水和苦水來嗎？
12 我的弟兄們，無花果樹能結橄欖嗎？葡萄樹能長無花果嗎？鹹水也不能發出甜水來。

從天上來的智慧
13 你們中間誰是有智慧、有見識的呢？他就應當有美好的生活，用明智的溫柔，把自己的行為表現出來。
14 如果你們心中存着刻薄的嫉妒和自私，就不可誇口，也不可說謊抵擋真理。
15 這種智慧不是從天上來的，而是屬地的、屬血氣的和屬鬼魔的。
16 因為凡有嫉妒和自私的地方，就必有擾亂和各樣的壞事。
17 至於從天上來的智慧，首先是純潔的，其次是和平的，溫柔的，謙遜的，滿有恩慈和善果，沒有偏袒，沒有虛偽。
18 這是締造和平的人，用和平所培植出來的義果。

James

1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.