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 who are such shall pass a stricter trial than others: for in many things we all offend;
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.
and if any offend not in word, he is a compleat man, able to manage also 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 bridles into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body as we please.
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 of so great bulk, and even when they are driven by hard winds, yet are turned about by a very small helm which way soever the pilot pleaseth.
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 the tongue is a small part of the body, yet boasteth great things. Behold how much fuel a little fire kindleth!
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, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our several parts, defiling the whole body, inflaming the course of nature, and is 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 wild beasts, and birds, and reptiles, and fishes, is tamed and hath been tamed by mankind:
8 But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, 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 after 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 proceedeth 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 from the same opening send forth 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 a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine figs? so can no fountain produce salt water and sweet.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let that person show a good life by his works in the humility of wisdom.
Is there any wise and understanding man among you? let him shew his works by a good conversation in 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 ye have bitter envy and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth;
15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
this is not the wisdom, that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and diabolical:
16 For where there are jealousy and ambition, there is confusion and every evil practice.
for where envying and strife is, there is confusion 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 first is pure, then peaceable, mild, 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 the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those that promote peace.
