James

论舌头

1我的弟兄们，不要多人作师傅，因为晓得我们要受更重的判断。

2原来我们在许多事上都有过失；若有人在话语上没有过失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。

3我们若把嚼环放在马嘴里，叫它顺服，就能调动它的全身。

4看哪，船只虽然甚大，又被大风催逼，只用小小的舵，就随着掌舵的意思转动。

5这样，舌头在百体里也是最小的，却能说大话。 看哪，最小的火能点着最大的树林。

6舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来，并且是从地狱里点着的。

7各类的走兽、飞禽、昆虫、水族，本来都可以制伏，也已经被人制伏了；

8惟独舌头没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，满了害死人的毒气。

9我们用舌头颂赞那为主、为父的，又用舌头咒诅那照着 神形象被造的人。

10颂赞和咒诅从一个口里出来！我的弟兄们，这是不应当的！

11泉源从一个眼里能发出甜苦两样的水吗？

12我的弟兄们，无花果树能生橄榄吗？葡萄树能结无花果吗？咸水里也不能发出甜水来。

论从上头来的智慧

13你们中间谁是有智慧有见识的呢？他就当在智慧的温柔上显出他的善行来。

14你们心里若怀着苦毒的嫉妒和纷争，就不可自夸，也不可说谎话抵挡真道。

15这样的智慧不是从上头来的，乃是属地的，属情欲的，属鬼魔的。

16在何处有嫉妒、纷争，就在何处有扰乱和各样的坏事。

17惟独从上头来的智慧，先是清洁，后是和平，温良柔顺，满有怜悯，多结善果，没有偏见，没有假冒。

18并且使人和平的，是用和平所栽种的义果。

1Be ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment.

2For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body.

3For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.

4Behold also ships, whereas they are great, and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the governor willeth.

5Even so the tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.

6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell.

7For every nature of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is tamed, and hath been tamed, by the nature of man:

8But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.

9By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11Doth a fountain send forth, out of the same hole, sweet and bitter water?

12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear grapes; or the vine, figs? So neither can the salt water yield sweet.

13Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew, by a good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.

14But if you have bitter zeal, and there be contentions in your hearts; glory not, and be not liars against the truth.

15For this is not wisdom, descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish.

16For where envying and contention is, there is inconstancy, and every evil work.

17But the wisdom, that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation.

18And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace.