1 nolite plures magistri fieri fratres mei
scientes quoniam maius iudicium sumitis
2 in multis enim offendimus omnes
si quis in verbo non offendit hic perfectus est vir
potens etiam freno circumducere totum corpus
3 si autem equorum frenos in ora
mittimus
ad consentiendum nobis
et omne corpus illorum circumferimus
4 ecce et naves cum magnae sint et a ventis validis minentur
circumferuntur a modico gubernaculo
ubi impetus dirigentis voluerit
5 ita et lingua
modicum quidem membrum est et magna exultat
ecce quantus ignis quam magnam silvam incendit
6 et lingua ignis est universitas iniquitatis
lingua constituitur in membris nostris
quae maculat totum corpus
et inflammat rotam nativitatis nostrae inflammata a gehenna
7 omnis enim natura bestiarum et volucrum
et serpentium etiam ceterorum
domantur et domita sunt a natura humana
8 linguam autem nullus hominum domare potest
inquietum malum plena veneno mortifero
9 in ipsa benedicimus Dominum et Patrem
et in ipsa maledicimus homines qui ad similitudinem Dei facti sunt
10 ex ipso ore procedit benedictio et maledictio
non oportet fratres mei haec ita fieri
11 numquid fons de eodem foramine emanat dulcem et amaram aquam
12 numquid potest fratres mei ficus olivas facere aut vitis
ficus
sic neque salsa dulcem potest facere aquam
13 quis sapiens et disciplinatus inter vos
ostendat ex bona conversatione operationem suam
in mansuetudine sapientiae
14 quod si zelum amarum habetis
et contentiones in cordibus vestris
nolite gloriari et mendaces esse adversus veritatem
15 non est ista sapientia desursum descendens
sed terrena animalis diabolica
16 ubi enim zelus et contentio
ibi inconstantia et omne opus pravum
17 quae autem desursum est sapientia primum quidem pudica est
deinde pacifica modesta suadibilis
plena misericordia et fructibus bonis
non iudicans sine simulatione
18 fructus autem iustitiae in pace seminatur facientibus pacem
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is , there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.