James 3
1 Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.
Do not become many teachers, my brothers, because you know well that we teachers shall be judged by a severer standard than others.
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 respects we often stumble. If any man never stumbles in speech, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
3 Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.
When we put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we control their whole body also.
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.
Look at the ships too, though they are so large, even when driven by fierce winds they are turned by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the helmsman wills.
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 small member and makes great boasts. Behold, how great a forest is set on fire by a little spark!
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; it is a very world of iniquity among our members, defiling the whole body, and setting on fire the wheel of nature, and is itself set on fire by 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 while every kind of beast and bird, and of reptiles and sea- creatures are tamable, and actually have been tamed by mankind,
8 but the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.
no man can tame the tongue, restless evil that it is, 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 continually bless our Lord and Father, and with it we are accustomed to curse men made in the image 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.
From out of the same mouth pour forth blessings and cursings! My brothers, this ought not to be so.
11 Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?
Does a spring pour forth from the same opening 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 brothers, bear olives; or a grape-vine, figs? No more can salt water yield fresh water.
13 Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;
Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him show his deeds by his good life, in 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 you have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, do not be boasting of that, and be false to the truth.
15 This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.
Such wisdom is not that which is descending from on high, but is earthly, sensual, demonlike.
16 For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.
For wherever jealousy and faction exist, there is confusion and every evil 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 which comes from on high is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, conciliatory, overflowing with mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without insincerity.
18 But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.
And the fruit of righteousness is being sown in peace by those who are working peace.
