James 3
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Do not be eager, my brethren, for many among you to become teachers; for you know that we teachers shall undergo severer judgement.
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 often stumble and fall, all of us. If there is any one who never stumbles in speech, that man has reached maturity of character and is able to curb his whole nature.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.
Remember that we put the horses' bit into their mouths to make them obey us, and so we turn their whole bodies round.
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.
So too with ships, great as they are, and often driven along by strong gales, yet they can be steered with a very small rudder in whichever direction the caprice of the man at the helm chooses.
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.
In the same way the tongue is an insignificant part of the body, but it is immensely boastful. Remember how a mere spark may set a vast forest in flames.
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 a fire. That world of iniquity, the tongue, is placed within us spotting and soiling our whole nature, and setting the whole round of our lives on fire, being itself set on fire by Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
For brute nature under all its forms--beasts and birds, reptiles and fishes--can be subjected and kept in subjection by human nature.
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
But the tongue no man or woman is able to tame. It is an ever-busy mischief, and is full of deadly 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.
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness.
10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
Out of the same mouth there proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be.
11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
In a fountain, are fresh water and bitter sent forth from the same opening?
12 My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Can a fig-tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine yield figs? No; and neither can salt water yield sweet.
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.
Which of you is a wise and well-instructed man? Let him prove it by a right life with conduct guided by a wisely teachable spirit.
14 But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
But if in your hearts you have bitter feelings of envy and rivalry, do not speak boastfully and falsely, in defiance of the truth.
15 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
That is not the wisdom which comes down from above: it belongs to earth, to the unspiritual nature, and to evil spirits.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
For where envy and rivalry are, there also are unrest and every vile deed.
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.
The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceful, courteous, not self-willed, full of compassion and kind actions, free from favouritism and from all insincerity.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
And peace, for those who strive for peace, is the seed of which the harvest is righteousness.
