- 1
- My brethren, be not manie maisters, knowyng howe that we shall receaue the greater damnation:
- 2
- For in many thynges we sinne all.
If a man sinne not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle all the body.
- 3
- Beholde, we put bittes in the horses mouthes, that they may obey vs, and we turne about all the body of them:
- 4
- Beholde also ye shippes, which though they be so great, and are dryuen of fierce windes, yet are they turned about with a very small helme, whither soeuer the violence of the gouernour wyll.
- 5
- Euen so the tongue is a litle member also, & boasteth great thynges.
Beholde how great a matter a litle fire kindleth.
- 6
- And the tongue is fyre, euen a worlde of wickednesse.
So is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fyre the course of nature, & it is set on fyre of hell.
- 7
- All the natures of beastes, & of byrdes, and of serpentes, and thynges of the sea, are meeked and tamed of the nature of man:
- 8
- But the tongue can no man tame, it is an vnruly euyll, full of deadly poyson.
- 9
- Therwith blesse we God the father: and therwith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
- 10
- Out of one mouth proceadeth blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these thynges ought not so to be.
- 11
- Doth a fountayne sende foorth at one place, sweete water, and bitter also?
- 12
- Can the fygge tree, my brethren, beare oliue beries?
either a vine beare figges? So can no fountayne geue both salt water and freshe also.
- 13
- Who is a wise man, and endued with knoweledge among you?
let him shewe his workes out of good conuersation with mekenesse of wisdome.
- 14
- But yf ye haue bitter enuiyng & strife in your hearte, glorie not, neither be lyers agaynst the trueth.
- 15
- For such wisdome descendeth not fro aboue: but is earthlie, sensuall, and deuelishe.
- 16
- For where enuiyng and strife is, there is sedition & all maner of euyll workes.
- 17
- But the wisdome that is from aboue, is first pure, then peaseable, gentle, and easie to be entreated, full of mercie and good fruites, without iudgyng, without simulation:
- 18
- Yea, and the fruite of ryghteousnes is sowen in peace, of the that make peace.
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