James 3
1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive greater judgment.
Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
2 For we all stumble in many things. If any man does not stumble in word, this is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who does not stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.
3 Behold we put bits into the mouths of horses for them to obey us, and we guide about their whole body.
Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, being so great and driven by fierce winds, are guided about by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the man who steers determines.
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.
5 So also the tongue is a little body-part, and boasts greatly. Behold a little fire, how much wood it kindles.
So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. Thus, the tongue is made to lead among our body-parts, defiling the whole body, and setting the cycle of nature on fire, and being set on fire by hell. (Geenna g1067)
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).
7 For every species, both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human species.
For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
8 But no man is able to tame the tongue of men, an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 By it we bless the God and Father, and by it we curse men, who were made according to a likeness of God.
With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and curse. My brothers, these things ought not to happen this way.
Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does the spring pour out from the same opening the sweet and the bitter?
Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
12 A fig tree, my brothers, cannot make olives, or a grapevine figs. In the same way, no one spring makes water salty and sweet.
Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show from his good behavior his works in meekness of wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast, and do not lie against the truth.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and do not lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not descending from above, but is earthly, world-soul, demonic.
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
16 For where envy and selfish ambition are, there is instability and every evil deed.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
17 But the wisdom from above is indeed first pure, then peaceful, gentle, easily entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and non-hypocritical.
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.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace to those who make peace.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
