James 3
1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
Not many of you should become teachers, my friends, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly than others.
2 For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.
We often make mistakes, every one of us. Anyone who does not make mistakes when speaking is indeed a perfect person, able to bridle their whole body as well.
3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
When we put bits into horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we change their course the rest of their bodies.
4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
Again, think of ships. Large as they are, and even when driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder and steered in whatever direction the man at the helm may determine.
5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
So is it with the tongue. Small as it is, it is a great boaster. Think how a tiny spark may set the largest forest ablaze!
6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is like a spark. It is a world of unrighteousness among the parts of our body. It contaminates the whole body; it sets the whole course of our existence on fire, and is itself set on fire by the flames of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
For while all kinds of animals, birds and reptiles and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed by humans,
8 but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless plague! It is charged with deadly poison!
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made “in God’s likeness.”
10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
From the very same mouth come blessings and curses! My friends, it is not right that this should be so.
11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
Does a spring give both good and bad water from the same source?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
Can a fig tree, my friends, bear olives? Or a vine bear figs? No, nor can a brackish well give good water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
Who among you claims to be wise and intelligent? They should show that their actions are the outcome of a good life lived in the humility of true wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.
But if you harbour bitter envy and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or deny the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
That is not the wisdom which comes from above; no, it is earthly, animalistic, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
For where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of bad, worthless actions.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
But the wisdom from above is, before everything else, pure; then peace-loving, gentle, open to conviction, rich in compassion and good deeds, and free from partiality and insincerity.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Justice is the harvest peacemakers will reap from seeds sown in a spirit of peace.
