James 3
1 Do not let many be teachers, my brothers, having known that we will receive greater judgment,
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2 for we all make many stumbles; if anyone does not stumble in word, this one [is] a perfect man, able to also bridle the whole body;
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in words, he is a perfect man, able to control even his whole body.
3 behold, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and we direct their whole body;
Now if we put bits into horses' mouths for them to obey us, we can also direct their whole bodies.
4 behold, also the ships, being so great, and being driven by fierce winds, are directed by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the [one] steering wills,
Notice also that ships, although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, are steered by a very small rudder to wherever the pilot desires.
5 so also the tongue is a little member, and boasts greatly; behold, how much forest a little fire kindles!
Likewise the tongue is a small body part, yet it boasts great things. Notice also how small a fire sets on fire a large forest.
6 And the tongue [is] a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
The tongue is also a fire, a world of sinfulness set among our body parts. It stains the whole body and sets on fire the course of life. It is itself set on fire by hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 For every nature, both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and has been subdued, by the human nature,
For every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is being tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 but no one of men is able to subdue the tongue—[it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison;
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 with it we bless the God and Father, and with it we curse the men made according to [the] likeness of God;
With it we praise the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
10 out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing; it does not need, my brothers, these things to so happen;
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not happen.
11 does the fountain out of the same opening pour forth the sweet and the bitter?
Does a spring pour out from its opening both sweet and bitter water?
12 Is a fig tree able, my brothers, to make olives? Or a vine figs? Neither is salty [water able] to have made sweet water.
Does a fig tree, my brothers, make olives? Or a grapevine, figs? Neither can salty water produce sweet water.
13 Who [is] wise and intelligent among you? Let him show his works out of good behavior in meekness of wisdom,
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let that person show a good life by his works in the humility of wisdom.
14 yet, if you have bitter zeal, and rivalry in your heart, do not glory, nor lie against the truth;
But if you have bitter jealousy and ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 this wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 for where zeal and rivalry [are], there is insurrection and every evil matter;
For where there are jealousy and ambition, there is confusion and every evil practice.
17 but the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, well-convinced, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical—
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
18 and the fruit of righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.
The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace among those who make peace.
