James 3
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.
2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his 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 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.
Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.
4 Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.
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 In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!
6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself 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 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
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 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 the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness of God.
10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.
11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?
12 My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce 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 it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from 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 harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.
