Sirach 14:1

Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon

1 Happy are those who do not blunder with their lips, and need not suffer remorse for sin. 2 Happy are those whose hearts do not condemn them, and who have not given up their hope. 3 Riches are inappropriate for a small-minded person; and of what use is wealth to a miser? 4 What he denies himself he collects for others; and others will live in luxury on his goods. 5 If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be generous? He will not enjoy his own riches.

James 3:2

New Testament

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. 3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. 4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 5 So, too, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence—and is set on fire by hell.

 Notes and References

"... The macarism (beatitude-form) is found in the teachings of Jesus (e.g., Matthew 5:3–12; Luke 6:20–2) and in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 8:34; Job 5:17; compare Sirach 14:1). The idea that God blesses the faithful who endure suffering is also found in Jewish traditions (e.g., Daniel 12:12; 4 Maccabees 7:22). Perhaps James is responding in some way to the “do not lead us into temptation” petition of the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:13/Luke 11:4) ..."

Gowler, David B. James through the Centuries (p. 100) Wiley-Blackwell, 2014

 User Comments

Do you have questions or comments about these texts? Please submit them here.