Bible In Poetry: James 3 Poem by Dr John Celes

Taming the Tongue:

1Don’t you presume to be teachers,
Because you know that we who teach
Will be God judged much more strictly.
2 We stumble in so many ways.
If one is faultless in his speech,
He is a perfect man always,
Able to keep body in check.
3 When we put bits into horse-mouth,
To make it obey our commands,
We can turn the whole animal.
4 Or take ships as an example:
Although they are so large in size,
And are driven by strong winds on seas,
They’re steered by just a small rudder
Wherev’r the pilot wants to go.
5 Likewise the tongue is small a part
Of body, but it makes great boasts.
A spark though small starts forest-fires!
6 The tongue also is a fire,
An evil among body-parts.
It will corrupt the whole person,
And sets the whole life-course afire,
And itself set on fire in hell.
7All kinds of beasts, birds, reptiles and
Sea-creatures have been tamed by man,
8 No man can tame the tongue at all.
It is a restless evil great,
Afilled with deadly poison much.
9 By tongue we praise our God, Father,
With it we curse all men, women,
Who have been made in God's likeness.
10 The same mouth praises and curses.
My dear brothers, this should not be.
11 Can fresh-water and salt-water,
Both flow together from same spring?
12 Can a fig tree ev’r bear olives,
Or a grapevine ever bear figs?
Nor can salt spring give fresh water!

Two Kinds of Wisdom:

13 Who is wise and understanding?
Let him show it by his good life,
By deeds done with humility,
That comes from wisdom from above.
14 But harbor if you sour envy,
And selfish ambition in hearts,
Don’t boast about or deny truth.
15 Such 'wisdom' comes not from heaven:
Is earthly and of the devil.
16 Where you have envy, selfishness,
Ambition, you find disorder,
And every evil practice too.
17 But wisdom that comes from heaven,
Is first of all pure, peace-loving,
Considerate, submissive too,
Full of mercy and much good fruit,
Impartial and sincere as well.
18 Those peacemakers who sow in peace,
Raise harvest of mere righteousness.