James 3
1 Be ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment.
Do not be eager, my brethren, for many among you to become teachers; for you know that we teachers shall undergo severer judgement.
2 For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the 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 For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
Remember that we put the horses' bit into their mouths to make them obey us, and so we turn their whole bodies round.
4 Behold also ships, whereas they are great, and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the governor willeth.
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 Even so the tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.
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 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being 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 For every nature of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is tamed, and hath been tamed, by the nature of 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 the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet 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 By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.
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 proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Out of the same mouth there proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth, out of the same hole, sweet and bitter water?
In a fountain, are fresh water and bitter sent forth from the same opening?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear grapes; or the vine, figs? So neither can the salt water yield sweet.
Can a fig-tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine yield figs? No; and neither can salt water yield sweet.
13 Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew, by a good conversation, his work in the meekness of 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 have bitter zeal, and there be contentions in your hearts; glory not, and be not liars against 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 For this is not wisdom, descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish.
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 envying and contention is, there is inconstancy, and every evil work.
For where envy and rivalry are, there also are unrest and every vile deed.
17 But the wisdom, that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation.
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 And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace.
And peace, for those who strive for peace, is the seed of which the harvest is righteousness.
