King James Bible
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:"
James addresses his readers with tender affection, using 'wherefore' to connect this instruction to his previous teaching about receiving God's word. The familial term 'beloved brethren' establishes both his pastoral care and the communal nature of Christian wisdom. James prioritizes listening as the primary posture of wisdom, urging eagerness and readiness to receive rather than broadcast. This mirrors Jewish wisdom tradition where the wise person is characterized by attentive listening rather than hasty speech. These paired restraints guard against two common sins of the tongue—rash words and angry outbursts. James links uncontrolled speech with uncontrolled temper, suggesting that deliberate patience in both areas reflects the righteousness of God rather than human impulsiveness.