James 3
1 Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.
MY brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive a severer judgment.
2 For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, he [is] a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.
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 Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.
Behold, we put bits into the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
4 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.
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 Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!
So also the tongue is a little member, and proudly vaunts. Behold how great a pile of wood, a little fire kindleth!
6 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)
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 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;
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 the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.
but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [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 Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.
Out of the same mouth goeth forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be thus.
11 Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?
Doth a fountain from the same aperture spout forth sweet water and bitter?
12 Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt [water] make sweet 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 understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in 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 ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
But if ye have bitter envy and contention in your heart, boast not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.
This is not the wisdom which cometh from above, but is earthly, sensual, diabolical.
16 For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.
For where envy and contention dwell, there is tumult and every vile deed.
17 But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.
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 But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.
But the fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for those who are peacemakers.
