James — Chapter 3

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

4Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

6The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

12My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.

15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

1Be not many [of you] teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.

2For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

3Now if we put the horses` bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.

4Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.

5So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!

6And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.

7For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.

8But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison.

9Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

10out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter?

12Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt water yield sweet.

13Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.

14But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.

15This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.

17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.

2For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.

3And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.

4Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs.

5So, too, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.

6And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence—and is set on fire by hell.

7For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.

8But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image.

10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.

11A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?

12Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.

13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.

14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.

15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.

16For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.

18And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.

1Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

2For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

3Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

4Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.

5So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

6And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.

7For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;

8but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

10Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

11Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?

12Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.

15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

16For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.