Epistula Iacobi

Iacobi, chapter 3, Vulgate and King James Version

Chapter 3 Vulgate

   1 Nolite plures magistri fieri, fra tres mei, scientes quoniam maius iudicium accipiemus.
   2 In multis enim offendimus omnes. Si quis in verbo non offendit, hic perfectus est vir, potens etiam freno circumducere totum corpus.
   3 Si autem equorum frenos in ora mittimus ad oboediendum nobis, et omne corpus illorum circumferimus.
   4 Ecce et naves, cum tam magnae sint et a ventis validis minentur, circumferuntur a minimo gubernaculo, ubi impetus dirigentis voluerit;
   5 ita et lingua modicum quidem membrum est et magna exsultat. Ecce quantus ignis quam magnam silvam incendit!
   6 Et lingua ignis est, universitas iniquitatis; lingua constituitur in membris nostris, quae maculat totum corpus et inflammat rotam nativitatis et inflammatur a gehenna.
   7 Omnis enim natura et bestiarum et volucrum et serpentium et etiam cetorum domatur et domita est a natura humana;
   8 linguam autem nullus hominum domare potest, inquietum malum, plena veneno mortifero.
   9 In ipsa benedicimus Dominum et Patrem et in ipsa maledicimus homines, qui ad similitudinem Dei facti sunt;
   10 ex ipso ore procedit benedictio et maledictio. Non oportet, fratres mei, haec ita fieri.
   11 Numquid fons de eodem foramine emanat dulcem et amaram aquam?
   12 Numquid potest, fratres mei, ficus olivas facere, aut vitis ficus? Neque salsa dulcem potest facere aquam.
   13 Quis sapiens et disciplinatus inter vos? Ostendat ex bona conversatione operationem suam in mansuetudine sapientiae.
   14 Quod si zelum amarum habetis et contentiones in cordibus vestris, nolite gloriari et mendaces esse adversus veritatem.
   15 Non est ista sapientia desursum descendens, sed terrena, animalis, diabolica;
   16 ubi enim zelus et contentio, ibi inconstantia et omne opus pravum.
   17 Quae autem desursum est sapientia primum quidem pudica est, deinde pacifica, modesta, suadibilis, plena misericordia et fructibus bonis, non iudicans, sine simulatione;
   18 fructus autem iustitiae in pace seminatur facientibus pacem.

Source: Bibliorum Sacrorum Editio, Sacrosanti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II, Ratione Habita, Iussu Pauli PP. VI Recognita, Auctoritate Ioannis Pauli PP. II Promulgata, Editio Typica Altera

King James Version

   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.