| Chapter 3 |
1 | Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
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2 | For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
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3 | Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
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4 | Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
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5 | So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
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6 | And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.
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7 | For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.
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8 | But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
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9 | With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.
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10 | Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
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11 | Does a spring send forth from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
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12 | Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
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13 | Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his deeds done in gentleness of wisdom by his good life.
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14 | But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth.
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15 | This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
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16 | For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
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17 | But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
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18 | Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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