James 3
1 I do not want many of you, my Brothers, to become teachers, knowing, as you do, that we who teach shall be judged by a more severe standard than others.
Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
2 We often make mistakes, every one of us. Any one who does not make mistakes when speaking is indeed a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body as well.
For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.
3 When we put bits into horses’ mouths, to make them obey us, we control the rest of their bodies so.
Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
4 Again, think of ships. Large as they are, and even when driven by fierce winds, they are controlled by a very small rudder and steered in whatever direction the man at the helm may determine.
Behold, 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.
5 So is it with the tongue. Small as it is, it is a great boaster. Think how tiny a spark may set the largest forest ablaze!
So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
6 And the tongue is like a spark. Among the members of our body it proves itself a very world of mischief; it contaminates the whole body; it sets the wheels of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by the flames of the Pit. (Geenna g1067)
And 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. (Geenna g1067)
7 For while all sorts of beasts and birds, and of reptiles and creatures in the sea, are tameable, and actually have been tamed by man,
For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
8 no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless plague! It is charged with deadly poison!
but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made ‘in God’s likeness.’
With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.
10 From the very same mouth come blessings and curses! My Brothers, it is not right that this should be so.
Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring give both good and bad water from the same source?
Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
12 Can a fig tree, my Brothers, bear olives? or a vine bear figs? No, nor can a brackish well give good water.
Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
13 Who among you claims to be wise and intelligent? Let him show that his actions are the outcome of a good life lived in the humility of true wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
14 But, while you harbour envy and bitterness and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or lie to the detriment of the Truth.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.
15 That is not the wisdom which comes from above; no, it is earthly, animal, devilish.
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
16 For, where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of base actions.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
17 But the wisdom from above is, before every thing else, pure; then peace-loving, gentle, open to conviction, rich in compassion and good deeds, and free from partiality and insincerity.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And righteousness, its fruit, is sown in peace by those who work for peace.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
