James 3
1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive greater judgment.
Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater 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 often offend. If any one offend not in word, he [is] a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.
3 Behold we put bits into the mouths of horses for them to obey us, and we guide about 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 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 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 also the tongue is a little body-part, and boasts greatly. Behold a little fire, how much wood it kindles.
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 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] 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 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 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 no man is able to tame the tongue of men, an unruly 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 By it we bless the God and Father, and by it we curse men, who were made according to a likeness 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 proceeds blessing and curse. My brothers, these things ought not to happen this way.
Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.
11 Does the spring pour out from the same opening the sweet and the bitter?
Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?
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, 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 from his good behavior his works in meekness 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 ye have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast, and do not 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 descending from above, but is earthly, world-soul, demonic.
This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.
16 For where envy and selfish ambition are, there is instability and every evil deed.
For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.
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 from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace to those who make peace.
But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.
