James 3
Legacy Standard Bible
The Tongue Is a Fire
3 (A)Do not, many of you, become teachers, (B)my brothers, knowing that we will receive a [a]stricter judgment. 2 For we all (C)stumble in many ways. (D)If anyone does not stumble in [b]what he says, he is a (E)perfect man, able to (F)bridle the entire body as well. 3 Now (G)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wills. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it (H)boasts of great things.
(I)Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And (J)the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which (K)defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our [c]existence, and is set on fire by [d](L)hell. 7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of (M)deadly poison. 9 With it we bless (N)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, (O)who have been made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a fountain pour forth from the same opening [e]fresh and bitter water? 12 (P)Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can saltwater produce [f]fresh.
Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (Q)Let him show by his (R)good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (S)jealousy and [g]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against (T)the truth. 15 This wisdom is not coming down (U)from above, but is (V)earthly, [h](W)natural, (X)demonic. 16 For where (Y)jealousy and [i]selfish ambition exist, [j]there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom (Z)from above is first (AA)pure, then (AB)peaceable, (AC)considerate, submissive, (AD)full of mercy and good fruits, (AE)without doubting, without (AF)hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness (AG)is sown in peace [k]by those who make peace.
Footnotes
- James 3:1 Or greater condemnation
- James 3:2 Lit word
- James 3:6 Or birth
- James 3:6 Gr Gehenna
- James 3:11 Lit sweet
- James 3:12 v 11, note 1
- James 3:14 Or strife
- James 3:15 Or unspiritual
- James 3:16 v 14, note 1
- James 3:16 In that place
- James 3:18 Or for
James 3
Young's Literal Translation
3 Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive,
2 for we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one [is] a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body;
3 lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about;
4 lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel,
5 so also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle!
6 and the tongue [is] a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by the gehenna.
7 For every nature, both of beasts and of fowls, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and hath been subdued, by the human nature,
8 and the tongue no one of men is able to subdue, [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison,
9 with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude of God;
10 out of the same mouth doth come forth blessing and cursing; it doth not need, my brethren, these things so to happen;
11 doth the fountain out of the same opening pour forth the sweet and the bitter?
12 is a fig-tree able, my brethren, olives to make? or a vine figs? so no fountain salt and sweet water [is able] to make.
13 Who [is] wise and intelligent among you? let him shew out of the good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom,
14 and if bitter zeal ye have, and rivalry in your heart, glory not, nor lie against the truth;
15 this wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,
16 for where zeal and rivalry [are], there is insurrection and every evil matter;
17 and the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical: --
18 and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.
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