James 3
1 My brothers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment.
My friends, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will have a heavier responsibility in the judgment.
2 For we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around.
All of us make mistakes in many ways. Anyone who doesn't make mistakes in what they say is truly a good person who can keep the whole body under control.
3 For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around.
We put bridles into the mouths of horses so that they'll obey us, and we can direct them wherever we want.
4 Consider also the ships, which, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will.
Look at ships as well: even though they're very big and are driven along by strong winds, they're steered by a very small rudder in the direction the pilot wants to go.
5 So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest.
In just the same way the tongue is a very small part of the body, but it makes great boasts! Think how a big forest can be set on fire by a very small flame!
6 And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is a fire! The tongue is a world of evil among the parts of the body. It disgraces all you are as a person, and can burn down the whole of your life, since it is set on fire by Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
7 For the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature.
People have tamed all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures,
8 But no man is able to rule over the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
but no one can tame the tongue—it's an evil thing, hard to control, full of deadly poison.
9 By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God.
We use the same tongue to bless our Lord and Father, as well as to curse people who are made in God's image—
10 From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!
blessings and curses come from the same mouth! Friends, it shouldn't be this way!
11 Does a fountain emit, out of the same opening, both sweet and bitter water?
Does a spring send both sweet and bitter water out of the same opening?
12 My brothers, can the fig tree yield grapes? Or the vine, figs? Then neither is salt water able to produce fresh water.
My friends, a fig tree can't produce olives, and a vine can't produce figs, any more than a salt water spring can produce fresh water!
13 Who is wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.
Who among you has wisdom and understanding? Let their good lives demonstrate what they do—doing what is right with wise kindness and consideration.
14 But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast about it and don't lie against the truth.
15 For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical.
This kind of “wisdom” doesn't come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
16 For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work.
Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition you'll also find confusion and all kinds of evil practices.
17 But within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness.
However, wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, and it also brings peace. It is kind and open to reason. It is full of mercy and produces good things. It is genuine and not hypocritical.
18 And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Those who sow peace will harvest the peace of what is truly good and right.
