26 If any one doth think to be religious among you, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, of this one vain `is' the religion;
Set, O Jehovah, a watch for my mouth, Watch Thou over the door of my lips.
for `he who is willing to love life, and to see good days, let him guard his tongue from evil, and his lips -- not to speak guile;
Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking deceit.
for we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one `is' a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body; lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about; lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel, so also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle! and the tongue `is' a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by the gehenna.
Better `is' the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse `in' his lips, who `is' a fool.
The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out.
also filthiness, and foolish talking, or jesting, -- the things not fit -- but rather thanksgiving;
your word always in grace -- with salt being seasoned -- to know how it behoveth you to answer each one.
for if any one doth think `himself' to be something -- being nothing -- himself he doth deceive;
The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.
In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips `is' wise.
To the Overseer, to Jeduthun. -- A Psalm of David. I have said, `I observe my ways, Against sinning with my tongue, I keep for my mouth a curb, while the wicked `is' before me.' I was dumb `with' silence, I kept silent from good, and my pain is excited.
And dost thou wish to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from the works is dead?
And from those who were esteemed to be something -- whatever they were then, it maketh no difference to me -- the face of man God accepteth not, for -- to me those esteemed did add nothing,
through which also ye are being saved, in what words I proclaimed good news to you, if ye hold fast, except ye did believe in vain,
Let no one deceive himself; if any one doth seem to be wise among you in this age -- let him become a fool, that he may become wise,
Ye have said, `A vain thing to serve God! And what gain when we kept His charge? And when we have gone in black, Because of Jehovah of Hosts?
Feeding on ashes, the heart is deceived, It hath turned him aside, And he delivereth not his soul, nor saith: `Is there not a lie in my right hand?'
All the day desiring he hath desired, And the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
There is a way right before a man, And its latter end -- ways of death.
There is a way -- right before a man, And its latter end `are' ways of death.
Be ye not as a horse -- as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee.
and having known the grace that was given to me, James, and Cephas, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, a right hand of fellowship they did give to me, and to Barnabas, that we to the nations, and they to the circumcision `may go',
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on James 1
Commentary on James 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of
The General Epistle of James
Chapter 1
After the inscription and salutation (v. 1) Christians are taught how to conduct themselves when under the cross. Several graces and duties are recommended; and those who endure their trials and afflictions as the apostle here directs are pronounced blessed and are assured of a glorious reward (v. 2-12). But those sins which bring sufferings, or the weakness and faults men are chargeable with under them, are by no means to be imputed to God, who cannot be the author of sin, but is the author of all good (v. 13-18). All passion, and rash anger, and vile affections, ought to be suppressed. The word of God should be made our chief study: and what we hear and know of it we must take care to practise, otherwise our religion will prove but a vain thing. To this is added an account wherein pure religion consists (v. 19-27).
Jam 1:1
We have here the inscription of this epistle, which consists of three principal parts.
Jam 1:2-12
We now come to consider the matter of this epistle. In this paragraph we have the following things to be observed:-
Jam 1:13-18
Jam 1:19-27
In this part of the chapter we are required,