Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Be ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment.
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Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
2 For 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.
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For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.
3 For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us: and we turn about their whole body.
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If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
4 Behold 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.
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Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 Even so the tongue is indeed a little member and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.
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So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
6 And 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.
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And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 For 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.
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For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,
8 But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.
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but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men who are made after the likeness of God.
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With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
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From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.
11 Doth a fountain send forth, out of the same hole, sweet and bitter water?
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Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear grapes? Or the vine, figs? So neither can the salt water yield sweet.
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Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge, among you? Let him shew, by a good contestation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.
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Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter zeal, and there be contention in your hearts: glory not and be not liars against the truth.
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But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.
15 For this is not wisdom, descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish.
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Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.
16 For where envying and contention is: there is inconstancy and every evil work.
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For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.
17 But 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.
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But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace.
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And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.