---
title: James 3
slug: kjv-nt/james-3
createdAt: 2024-09-11T02:11:09.548Z
---

**1 **My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. **2 **For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same *is* a perfect man, *and* able also to bridle the whole body. **3 **Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. **4 **Behold also the ships, which though *they be* so great, and *are* driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. **5 **Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! **6 **And the tongue *is* a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. **7 **For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: **8 **But the tongue can no man tame; *it is* an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. **9 **Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. **10 **Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. **11 **Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet *water* and bitter? **12 **Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so *can* no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

**13 **Who *is* a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. **14 **But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. **15 **This wisdom descendeth not from above, but *is* earthly, sensual, devilish. **16 **For where envying and strife *is*, there *is* confusion and every evil work. **17 **But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, *and* easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. **18 **And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.