James 3
1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
Mi britheren, nyle ye be maad many maistris, witynge that ye taken the more doom.
2 For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.
For alle we offenden in many thingis. If ony man offendith not in word, this is a perfit man; for also he may lede aboute al the bodi with a bridil.
3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
For if we putten bridlis `in to horsis mouthis, for to consente to vs, and we leden aboute al the bodi of hem.
4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
And lo! schippis, whanne thei ben grete, and ben dryuun of stronge wyndis, yit thei ben borun about of a litil gouernaile, where the meuyng of the gouernour wole.
5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
So also the tunge is but a litil membre, and reisith grete thingis. Lo! hou litil fier brenneth a ful greet wode.
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. (Geenna g1067)
And oure tunge is fier, the vniuersite of wickidnesse. The tunge is ordeyned in oure membris, which defoulith al the bodi; and it is enflawmed of helle, and enflawmeth the wheel of oure birthe. (Geenna g1067)
7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
And al the kynde of beestis, and of foulis, and of serpentis, and of othere is chastisid, and tho ben maad tame of mannus kinde; but no man mai chastise the tunge,
8 but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
for it is an vnpesible yuel, and ful of deedli venym.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.
In it we blessen God, the fadir, and in it we cursen men, that ben maad to the licnesse of God.
10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Of the same mouth passith forth blessing and cursing. My britheren, it bihoueth not that these thingis be don so.
11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
Whether a welle of the same hoole bringith forth swete and salt watir?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
My britheren, whether a fige tre may make grapis, ethir a vyne figus? So nethir salt watir mai make swete watir.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
Who is wijs, and tauyt among you? schewe he of good lyuyng his worching, in myldenesse of his wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.
That if ye han bitter enuye, and stryuyngis ben in youre hertis, nyle ye haue glorye, and be lyeris ayens the treuthe.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
For this wisdom is not fro aboue comynge doun, but ertheli, and beestli, and feendli.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
For where is enuye and strijf, there is vnstidfastnesse and al schrewid werk.
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.
But wisdom that is from aboue, first it is chast, aftirward pesible, mylde, able to be counseilid, consentinge to goode thingis, ful of merci and of goode fruytis, demynge with out feynyng.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
And the fruyt of riytwisnesse is sowun in pees, to men that maken pees.
