James 3
Controlling the Things We Say
1 My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.2 We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too.3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can control their whole bodies.4 Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants.
5 It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it brags about great things.
A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame.6 And the tongue is like a fire. It is a whole world of evil among the parts of our bodies. The tongue spreads its evil through the whole body. The tongue is set on fire by hell, and it starts a fire that influences all of life.7 People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them,8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil and full of deadly poison.9 We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself.10 Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers and sisters, this should not happen.11 Do good and bad water flow from the same spring?
12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! And a well full of salty water cannot give good water.
True Wisdom
13 Are there those among you who are truly wise and understanding? Then they should show it by living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom.14 But if you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, do not brag. Your bragging is a lie that hides the truth.15 That kind of “wisdom” does not come from God but from the world. It is not spiritual; it is from the devil.16 Where jealousy and selfishness are, there will be confusion and every kind of evil.17 But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest.18 People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living.
James 3
1 Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.2 For 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.3 Now if we put the horses’ bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.4 Behold, 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.5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!6 And 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.7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison.9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:10 out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.11 Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water yield sweet.13 Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.14 But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.15 This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.17 But 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.18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.