James 3
1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.
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.
For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, he [is] a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.
3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole 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.
Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will.
5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!
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] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
For every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of sea animals, is tamed and has been tamed by the human species;
8 but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
but the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.
Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness of God.
10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.
11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt [water] make sweet 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 [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of 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 ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.
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 first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.
