< James 3 >

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 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.
For in many things we all offend. If any one offends not in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Now if we put bits into horses' mouths for them to obey us, we can also direct their whole bodies.
Behold, we put bits into horses mouths that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
4 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.
Behold also the ships, which are very great, and are driven by violent winds; yet they are turned about by a very small helm, to whatever point the will of him that directs it may determine.
5 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.
So, also, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a forest does a little fire set in a blaze.
6 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)
And the tongue is a fire, the world of iniquity. So is the tongue placed among our members, defiling the whole body, setting on fire the course of life, and being set on fire by hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 For every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is being tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
For every kind of beasts and of birds, of creeping things and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by man:
8 But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
but the tongue no man can tame; it is an unruly evil; it is full of deadly poison.
9 With it we praise the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
With it we bless God, even the Father: and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.
10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not happen.
Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not so to be.
11 Does a spring pour out from its opening both sweet and bitter water?
Does a fountain send forth from the same cavern sweet water and bitter?
12 Does a fig tree, my brothers, make olives? Or a grapevine, figs? Neither can salty water produce sweet water.
Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olives, or the vine, figs? So no fountain can produce salt water and fresh.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let that person show a good life by his works in the humility of wisdom.
Who is wise and discreet among you? Let him show, by a good behavior, his works, with the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.
But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
This wisdom comes not from above, but is earthly, animal, demoniac.
16 For where there are jealousy and ambition, there is confusion and every evil practice.
For where envy and strife are, there is commotion, and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace among those who make peace.
And those who cultivate peace, sow for themselves a harvest of righteousness in peace.

< James 3 >