雅各书

第三章

要制伏舌头
1 我的弟兄们，你们不应该有太多人作教师，因为知道我们作教师的将受更严厉的审判。
2 我们在许多的事上都有过错，假如有人在言语上没有过错，他就是完全的人，也能够控制全身。
3 我们若把嚼环扣入马嘴，使它们驯服，就能驾驭它们的全身。
4 试看，船只虽然甚大，又被狂风催逼，舵手只用小小的舵，就可以随意操纵。
5 照样，舌头虽然是个小肢体，却会说夸大的话。试看，星星之火，可以燎原；
6 舌头就是火，在我们百体中，是个不义的世界，能污秽全身，把整个生命在运转中焚烧起来，而且是被地狱之火点燃的。
7 各类飞禽、走兽、昆虫、水族，都可以驯服，而且都已经被人类制伏了；
8 可是没有人能够制伏舌头；它是喋喋不休的恶物，充满了致命的毒素。
9 我们用它来称颂我们的主和天父，又用它来咒诅照　神的形象被造的人。
10 同一张嘴竟然又称颂主，又咒诅人；我的弟兄们，这是不应该的！
11 同一泉眼里能够涌出甜水和苦水来吗？
12 我的弟兄们，无花果树能结橄榄吗？葡萄树能长无花果吗？咸水也不能发出甜水来。

从天上来的智慧
13 你们中间谁是有智慧、有见识的呢？他就应当有美好的生活，用明智的温柔，把自己的行为表现出来。
14 如果你们心中存着刻薄的嫉妒和自私，就不可夸口，也不可说谎抵挡真理。
15 这种智慧不是从天上来的，而是属地的、属血气的和属鬼魔的。
16 因为凡有嫉妒和自私的地方，就必有扰乱和各样的坏事。
17 至于从天上来的智慧，首先是纯洁的，其次是和平的，温柔的，谦逊的，满有恩慈和善果，没有偏袒，没有虚伪。
18 这是缔造和平的人，用和平所培植出来的义果。

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.