Controlling the Tongue

Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment,(A) for we all stumble in many ways.(B) If anyone does not stumble in what he says,[a] he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.[b](C)

Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us,(D) we also guide the whole animal.[c] And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things.(E) Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body,(F) sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.

Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(G) We praise our[d] Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it.(H) 10 Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

13 Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness.(I) 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth.(J) 15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(K) 16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.(L) 18 And the fruit of righteousness(M) is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Footnotes

  1. James 3:2 Lit in word
  2. James 3:2 Lit to bridle the whole body
  3. James 3:3 Lit whole body
  4. James 3:9 Or praise the

Controlling the Tongue

Not many should become teachers, my brothers,[a] because you know that we will receive a stricter judgement.(A) For we all stumble in many ways.(B) If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.(C) Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us,(D) we direct their whole bodies. And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things.(E) Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed[b] among our members. It stains the whole body,(F) sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(G) With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.(H) 10 Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.(I) 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth.(J) 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(K) 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretence.(L) 18 And the fruit of righteousness(M) is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Or brothers and sisters
  2. 3:6 Or places itself, or appoints itself

邪恶的舌头

我的弟兄姊妹,不要个个当教师,因为你们知道,我们为人师表的将受到更严格的评判, 因为我们在许多方面难免有过失。如果谁在言语上没有过失,他就是纯全的人,也能在各方面保持自制。 我们如果把嚼环放在马嘴里,便可以使它顺服,驾驭它。 一艘大船在遭遇暴风吹袭时,船身虽然庞大,但舵手只要操纵一个小小的舵,就能随意驾驶它。

同样,人的舌头虽然很小,却能说夸大的话。

看啊,小火星能点燃大森林。 舌头就是火,是我们身体上的一个充满邪恶的世界,能玷污人的全身,足以毁掉人的一生,它是从地狱点燃的火。 自然界中的各类走兽、飞禽、爬虫、水族都可以被驯服,也已经被人类驯服了, 但无人能驯服自己的舌头,因为舌头是个无法控制的邪恶之物,充满了致命的毒气。 我们用舌头来赞美主和天父,也用舌头来咒诅照着上帝的形象被造的人。 10 赞美和咒诅竟然从同一张嘴里发出来。我的弟兄姊妹,这是不应该的! 11 同一个泉源能涌出甜苦两样水吗? 12 我的弟兄姊妹,无花果树能结出橄榄吗?葡萄树能结出无花果吗?一个咸水泉必流不出甜水来。

天上的智慧

13 你们当中谁是有智慧、有见识的呢?请他带着来自智慧的谦和,在善行上表现出来。 14 但如果你们心怀苦毒的嫉妒和自私的野心,就不要自夸说有智慧,也不要违背真理去撒谎。 15 这种智慧并非来自天上,而是从世俗、私欲和魔鬼来的。 16 哪里有嫉妒和自私的野心,哪里就会有混乱和各样的恶事。

17 但从天上来的智慧首先是纯洁,然后是爱好和平、温良柔顺、充满怜悯、多结善果、不存偏见、没有虚伪。 18 使人和睦的人撒下和平的种子,必收获仁义的果实。

Taming the Tongue

Not many of you should become teachers,(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(B) more strictly.(C) We all stumble(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(E) is perfect,(F) able to keep their whole body in check.(G)

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(H) Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(I) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire,(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(K) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(L)

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(M)

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.(N) 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?(O) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(P) by their good life, by deeds(Q) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(R) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(S) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(T) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(U) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(V) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(W) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(X) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(Y) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(Z) 18 Peacemakers(AA) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(AB)