James 3-4

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Controlling the Tongue

3 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment,^{(A) 2} 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)

³ Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us,^(D) we also guide the whole animal.^{[c] 4} 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. ⁵ 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. ⁶ 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.

⁷ Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, ⁸ but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^{(G) 9} 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.

Proud or Humble

4 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings^(N) that are at war within you?^{[e] 2} You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.^(O)

⁴ Adulteresses!^[f][g] Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.^{(P) 5} Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously?^[h](Q)

⁶ But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says:

⁷ Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.^{(S) 8} Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!^{(T) 9} Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow.^{(U) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

¹¹ Don’t criticize one another, brothers. He who criticizes a brother or judges his brother criticizes the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.^{(V) 12} There is one lawgiver and judge^[j] who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?^(W)

Our Will and His Will

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”^{(X) 14} You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.^(Y)

¹⁵ Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.^{(Z) 17} So it is a sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn’t do it.^(AA)