Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles

1Be not many masters, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment:

2For in many things we all offend. If any one offend not in word, he is a perfect man, as one who can bridle also the whole body.

3Behold, we put bridles in horses’ months, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.

4Behold also the ships, however large they may be and driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about by a very small helm wherever the will of the pilot wishes.

5So also the tongue is a very small member and boasts great things.

6Behold, a little fire, what quantity of wood it burns! And the tongue is a fire, and a world of iniquity. So is the tongue among our members; it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the whole course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind:

8But the tongue no man can tame, an unrestrainable evil, full of deadly poison.

9By it we bless God, even the Father; and by it we curse men made after his likeness!

10From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing! These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.

11Does a fountain from the same opening send forth the sweet and the bitter?

12Can a fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive-berries; or a vine, figs? so no fountain can bring forth briny and sweet water.

13Who is wise and intelligent among you? Let him shew by a good conduct his works with meekness of wisdom.

14But if ye have bitter emulation and contention in your heart, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15This is not the wisdom which comes from above, but earthly, animal, demoniacal:

16For where emulation and contention are,there is confusion and every evil work.

17But the wisdom which is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, humane, tractable, full of mercy and of good works, not officiously prying, not dissembling:

18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.