James 3

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Taming the Tongue

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

¹Let not many become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive greater judgment.

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.

²For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle even the whole body.

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

³Now if we put bits into the mouths of the horses for them to obey us, we turn about even their whole body.

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.

⁴Behold also the ships, being so great and being driven by strong winds, are turned about by a very small rudder where the impulse of the one steering intends.

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.

⁵So also the tongue is a small member, and it boasts great things. Behold what size a fire, what size a forest it kindles.

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.^a

⁶And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, and setting aflame the course of nature, and itself being set aflame by Gehenna.

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

⁷For every nature both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued and has been subdued by the human race,

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

⁸but no one of men is able to subdue the tongue; it is an unstable 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.

⁹With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, those having been made according to the likeness of God.

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

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

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

¹¹Does the spring send forth out of the same opening sweet and bitter?

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

¹²Is a fig tree able, my brothers, to make olives, or a vine, figs? Neither can salt prooduce sweet water.

The Wisdom from Above

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.

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it out of the good conduct his works in meekness of wisdom.

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

¹⁴But if you have bitter jealousy and self-interest in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.

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

¹⁵This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

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

¹⁶For where jealousy and self-interest are, there are disorder and every evil thing.

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

¹⁷But the wisdom from above is indeed first pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and of good fruits, impartial, unhypocritical.

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

¹⁸And the fruit of righteousness in peace is sown by those making peace.