James 3
1 My brothers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment.
MY brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive a severer judgment.
2 For we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around.
For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, he is a perfect man, and capable of reining in the whole body.
3 For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around.
Behold, we put bits into the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
4 Consider also the ships, which, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will.
Behold also the ships, though so great, and driven by tempestuous winds, are turned about by the smallest rudder, whithersoever the inclination of the pilot pleaseth.
5 So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest.
So also the tongue is a little member, and proudly vaunts. Behold how great a pile of wood, a little fire kindleth!
6 And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: in such manner is the tongue placed among our members, that it defileth all the body, and setteth on fire the circle of nature; and is set on fire of hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 For the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature.
For every species of wild beasts, and also of birds, of reptiles, and even of fishes, is tamed, and hath also been tamed by human ingenuity:
8 But no man is able to rule over the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God.
With it we bless God even the Farther; and with the same we curse men, though after the likeness of God.
10 From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!
Out of the same mouth goeth forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be thus.
11 Does a fountain emit, out of the same opening, both sweet and bitter water?
Doth a fountain from the same aperture spout forth sweet water and bitter?
12 My brothers, can the fig tree yield grapes? Or the vine, figs? Then neither is salt water able to produce fresh water.
Can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives; or a vine figs? so also can no fountain send forth salt water and sweet.
13 Who is wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.
Who is a wise man and intelligent among you, let him shew in a becoming conduct his works with the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth.
But if ye have bitter envy and contention in your heart, boast not, and lie not against the truth.
15 For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical.
This is not the wisdom which cometh from above, but is earthly, sensual, diabolical.
16 For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work.
For where envy and contention dwell, there is tumult and every vile deed.
17 But within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, meek, easily persuadable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and void of dissimulation.
18 And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace.
But the fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for those who are peacemakers.
