James 3

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¹My brethren, be not every man a master remembringe how that we shall receave the more damnacion:

²for in many thinges we synne all. Yf a man synne not in worde the same is a parfecte man and able to tame all the body.

³Beholde we put bittes into the horses mouthes that they shuld obeye vs and we turne aboute all the body.

⁴Beholde also the shyppes which though they be so gret and are dryven of fearce windes yet are they turned about with a very smale helme whither soever the violence of the governer wyll.

⁵Even so the tonge is a lyttell member and bosteth great thinges. Beholde how gret a thinge a lyttell fyre kyndleth

⁶and the tonge is fyre and a worlde of wyckednes. So is the tonge set amonge oure members that it defileth the whole body and setteth a fyre all that we have of nature and is it selfe set a fyre even of hell.

⁷All the natures of beastes and of byrdes and of serpentes and thinges of ye see are meked and tamed of the nature of man.

⁸But the tonge can no man tame. That is an vntuely evyll full of deedly poyson.

⁹Therwith blesse we God the father and therwith cursse we me which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰Out of one mouth proceadeth blessynge and cursynge. My brethren these thinges ought not so to be.

¹¹Doth a fountayne sende forth at one place swete water and bytter also?

¹²Can the fygge tree my Brethren beare olive beries: other a vyne beare fygges? So can no fountayne geve bothe salt water and fresshe also.

¹³If eny man be wyse and endued with learnynge amonge you let him shewe the workes of his good conversacion in meknes that ys coupled with wisdome.

¹⁴But Yf ye have bitter envyinge and stryfe in youre hertes reioyce not: nether be lyars agaynst the trueth.

¹⁵This wisdome descedeth not from a boue: but is erthy and naturall and divelisshe.

¹⁶For where envyinge and stryfe is there is stablenes and all maner of evyll workes.

¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is fyrst pure then peasable gentle and easy to be entreated full of mercy and good frutes without iudgynge and without simulacion:

¹⁸yee and the frute of rightewesnes is sowen in peace of them that mayntene peace.