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Mybrethren,benotmanymasters,knowingthat we shall receive the greatercondemnation.[a]
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For in many things we offendall. If any manoffendnotinword, the same is a perfectman, and ablealso to bridle the wholebody.
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Behold, we putbitsin the horses'mouths,thatthey may obeyus;and we turn abouttheirwholebody.
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Beholdalso the ships, which though they be so great,and are drivenoffiercewinds, yet are they turned aboutwith a very smallhelm,whithersoeverthegovernorlisteth*.
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Evenso the tongueis a littlemember,and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter[b] a littlefirekindleth!
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And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity:sois the tongueamongourmembers, that it defileth the wholebody,and setteth on fire the course[c] of nature;and it is set on fireofhell.
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Foreverykind[d] of beasts,andofbirds,and of serpents,and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind*:
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But the tonguecannomantame; it is an unrulyevil,full of deadlypoison.
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TherewithblessweGod,even the Father;andtherewithcursewemen,which are madeafter the similitude of God.
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Out of the samemouthproceedethblessingandcursing.Mybrethren, these thingsoughtnotso to be.
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Doth a fountain send forthat the sameplace[e]sweet water andbitter?
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Can* the fig tree,mybrethren,bear olive berries?either a vine,figs?so can nofountain both yieldsaltwaterandfresh.
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Who is a wise manand endued with knowledgeamongyou? let him shew out of a goodconversationhisworkswithmeekness of wisdom.
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Butif ye havebitterenvyingandstrifeinyourhearts,glorynot,and lie notagainst the truth.
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Thiswisdomdescendeth*not from above,but is earthly,sensual,[f]devilish.
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Forwhereenvyingandstrife is, there is confusion[g]andeveryevilwork.
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But the wisdom that is from aboveisfirstpure*, thenpeaceable,gentle, and easy to be intreated,full of mercyandgoodfruits, without partiality,[h]and without hypocrisy.
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And the fruit of righteousness is sowninpeace of them that makepeace.