James 3
1 Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive,
My brothers, not many of you should become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
2 for we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one [is] a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body;
Because we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, being able to bridle the whole body as well.
3 lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about;
Consider, we put bits in horses' mouths for them to obey us, and we guide their whole body.
4 lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel,
Consider also the ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the pilot may desire.
5 so also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle!
So also the tongue is a small member and boasts great things. Just look at how great a forest a little fire can kindle!
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 the gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is a fire! The organization of wickedness, that is how the tongue is placed among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire the course of life, itself being set on fire by hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 For every nature, both of beasts and of fowls, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and hath been subdued, by the human nature,
Every kind of animal and bird, reptile and sea creature, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race,
8 and the tongue no one of men is able to subdue, [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison,
but no one among men is able to tame the tongue—an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison.
9 with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude of God;
With it we bless God and Father, and with it we curse the people who have been made in God's likeness.
10 out of the same mouth doth come forth blessing and cursing; it doth not need, my brethren, these things so to happen;
Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and curses. My brothers, these things should not be that way.
11 doth the fountain out of the same opening pour forth the sweet and the bitter?
A spring does not send out sweet and bitter water from the same opening, does it?
12 is a fig-tree able, my brethren, olives to make? or a vine figs? so no fountain salt and sweet water [is able] to make.
Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grape vine figs? Thus no spring yields salt water and sweet.
13 Who [is] wise and intelligent among you? let him shew out of the good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom,
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him exhibit his works in the meekness of wisdom, by his good way of life.
14 and if bitter zeal ye have, and rivalry in your heart, glory not, nor lie against the truth;
But if you have bitter envy and selfish 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,
such ‘wisdom’ is not coming down from Above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 for where zeal and rivalry [are], there is insurrection and every evil matter;
Because where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is unruliness and every foul practice.
17 and the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical: —
In contrast, the wisdom from Above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
18 and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.
Now the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those making peace.
