James 3
1 Not, many teachers, become ye, my brethren, knowing that, a severer sentence, shall ye receive;
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2 For, oft, are we stumbling, one and all: If anyone, in word, doth not stumble, the same, is a mature man, able to curb even the whole body.
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his entire body as well.
3 Now, if, the horses bits, into their mouths, we thrust, to the end they may be yielding to us, their whole body also, do we turn about.
Behold, we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they will obey us, and we guide their entire bodies.
4 Lo! the ships also, large as they are, and, by rough winds, driven along, are turned about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the steersman inclineth.
Or take ships for example, though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot directs.
5 So, also, the tongue, is, a little member, and yet, of great things, maketh boast. Lo! how small a fire, kindleth, how great a forest;
In the same way, the tongue is a small member, yet it makes great boasts. Consider how great a forest a little fire kindles.
6 And, the tongue, is a fire, —[as], the world of unrighteousness, the tongue, becometh fixed among our members, that which defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the wheel of our natural life, and is set on fire, by gehenna! (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of unrighteousness, staining the entire body, setting the course of life on fire, and itself being set on fire by hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 For, every nature—both of wild beasts and of birds, both of reptiles and of things in the sea, is to be tamed, and hath been tamed, by the human nature;
Every species of beast, bird, reptile, and sea creature can be tamed and has been tamed by man,
8 But, the tongue, none of mankind can, tame, —A restless mischief! Full of deadly poison
but no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith, are we blessing our Lord and Father, and, therewith, we are cursing the men who, after the likeness of God, have been brought into being!
With it we bless God our Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness.
10 Out of the same mouth, come forth blessing and cursing! Not meet, my brethren, for, these things, thus, to be coming to pass!
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this ought not to be so.
11 Doth, the fountain, out of the same opening, teem forth the sweet and the bitter?
Does a spring pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening?
12 Is it possible, my brethren, for, a fig-tree, to produce, olives, or, a vine, figs? Neither can, salt, water yield, sweet.
Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? In the same way, no spring can produce both salt water and fresh water.
13 Who is wise and well-instructed among you? Let him show, out of his comely behaviour, his works, in meekness of wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done with the gentleness that comes from wisdom.
14 But, if, bitter jealousy, ye have, and rivalry, in your hearts; be not boasting and showing yourselves false against the truth!
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast or deny the truth.
15 This wisdom is not one, from above, coming down, but is earthly, born of the soul, demoniacal!
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above; rather, it is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
16 For, where jealousy and rivalry are, there, are anarchy and every ignoble deed.
For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.
17 But, the wisdom from above, is—first pure, then peaceable, reasonable, easy to be entreated, fraught with mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and unhypocritical.
18 And, in harvest of righteousness, with peace, is sown by them that make peace.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
