James

¹Not many of you should be teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ²In many things, we all stumble. Anyone who does not stumble in word is perfect, even able to bridle the whole body! ³Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and this way, we guide their whole body. ⁴Or consider the ships: although they are very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder as the pilot desires. ⁵Likewise, the tongue is a little member but it boasts great things! See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! ⁶The tongue is also a fire!²²⁶⁴ Among all our members, the tongue is a world of wrongdoing which defiles the whole body. It sets on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire by the fires of hell.^{2265 7}Every kind of animal, bird, reptile and sea creature is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸But nobody can tame the tongue! It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the image of God. ¹⁰From the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, this should not be! ¹¹Does a spring pour forth fresh and salty water from the same opening? ¹²My brethren, can a fig tree produce olives, or [can] a vine [produce] figs? Likewise, salt water cannot produce fresh water.

Heavenly vs. demonic wisdom

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let such a person show by a good conduct that his deeds are done in the gentleness of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and do not lie against the truth. ¹⁵This ‘wisdom’ is not the one that comes down from above! It is earthly, sensual, and demonic. ¹⁶Where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is confusion and every evil deed. ¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy. ¹⁸Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.²²⁶⁶

Cause of conflicts

2264. Compare Wisdom of Sirach 5:13;28:12
2265. Literally “Gehenna”
2266. Compare Matthew 5:9