James 3

Taming the tongue

1 My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because we know that we teachers will be judged more strictly.2 We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely.

3 When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies.
4 Consider ships: they are so large that strong winds are needed to drive them. But pilots direct their ships wherever they want with a little rudder.

5 In the same way, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly.
Think about this: a small flame can set a whole forest on fire.

6 The tongue is a small flame of fire, a world of evil at work in us. It contaminates our entire lives. Because of it, the circle of life is set on fire. The tongue itself is set on fire by the flames of hell.
7 People can tame and already have tamed every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish.8 No one can tame the tongue, though. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.9 With it we both bless the Lord and Father and curse human beings made in God’s likeness.

10 Blessing and cursing come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it just shouldn’t be this way!
11 Both fresh water and salt water don’t come from the same spring, do they?

12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? Of course not, and fresh water doesn’t flow from a saltwater spring either.

Wisdom from above

13 Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom.14 However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth.15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic.16 Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil.17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine.

18 Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts.

James 3

The Power of the Tongue

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,t because you know that we will be judged more strictly.t2 For we all stumblet in many ways. If someone does not stumblet in what he says,t he is a perfect individual,t able to control the entire body as well.3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.t4 Look 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.5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body,t yet it has great pretensions.t Thinkt how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.

6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue representst the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. Itt pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.s
7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creaturet is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.t8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restlesss evil, full of deadly poison.9 With it we bless the Lords and Father, and with it we curse peoplet made in God’s image.10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.t11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?

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

True Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.t14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.15 Sucht wisdom does not comet from above but is earthly, natural,t demonic.16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating,t full of mercy and good fruit,t impartial, and not hypocritical.t

18 And the fruit that consists of righteousnesst is plantedt in peace amongt those who make peace.