James 3
1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
Let there not be many teachers among you, my brethren; but know ye, that we are obnoxious to, a severer judgment.
2 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.
For we all offend in many things. Whoever offendeth not in discourse, is a perfect man, who can also keep his whole body in subjection.
3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
Behold, we put bridles into the mouth of horses, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
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.
Huge ships also, when strong winds drive them, are turned about by a small timber, to what place the pleasure of the pilot looketh.
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 likewise the tongue is a small member, and it exalteth itself. Also a little fire inflameth large forests.
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).
Now the tongue is a fire, and the world of sin is like a forest. And this tongue, which is one among our members, marreth our whole body; and it inflameth the series of our generations that roll on like a wheel; and it is itself on fire. (Geenna g1067)
7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
For all natures of beasts and birds and reptiles, of the sea or land, are subjugated by the nature of man.
8 but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
But the tongue hath no one been able to tame: it is an evil thing, not coercible, and full of 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.
For with it, we bless the Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who were made in the image of God:
10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
and from the same mouth, proceed curses and blessings. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
Can there flow from the same fountain, sweet waters 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.
Or can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olives? or the vine, figs? So also salt waters cannot be made sweet.
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 instructed among you? Let him show his works in praiseworthy actions, with modest wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and do not lie against the truth.
But if bitter envy be in you, or contention in your hearts, exalt not yourselves against the truth, and lie not.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
For this wisdom cometh not down from above; but is earthly, and from the devices of the soul, and from demons.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
For where envy and contention are, there also is confusion, and every thing wrong.
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 which is from above, is pure, and full of peace, and mild, and submissive, and full of compassion and of good fruits, and without partiality, and without respect of persons.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
And the fruits of righteousness are sown in stillness, by them who make peace.
