And (A)the tongue is a fire, a world of [a]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it (B)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of [b]nature; and it is set on fire by [c]hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, (C)full of deadly poison.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:6 unrighteousness
  2. James 3:6 existence
  3. James 3:6 Gr. Gehenna

And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by [a]hell (Gehenna). For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:6 See note Matt 5:22.

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

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28 (A)Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

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28 
Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.

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28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

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11 A fool vents all his (A)feelings,[a]
But a wise man holds them back.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit

11 
A [shortsighted] fool always loses his temper and displays his anger,
But a wise man [uses self-control and] holds it back.

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11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

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21 (A)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

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21 
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.(A)

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21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

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36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment people will have to give an accounting for every careless or useless word they speak. 37 For by your words [reflecting your spiritual condition] you will be justified and acquitted of the guilt of sin; and by your words [rejecting Me] you will be condemned and sentenced.”

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36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

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26 If anyone [a]among you thinks he is religious, and (A)does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:26 NU omits among you

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren).

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26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

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Qualities Needed in Trials

19 [a]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, (A)slow to speak, (B)slow to wrath;

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:19 NU Know this or This you know

19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

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19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

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The Elders’ Task

10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle (A)talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

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10 For there are many rebellious men who are empty talkers [just windbags] and deceivers; especially those of the circumcision [those Jews who insist that Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the Law in order to be saved].

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10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

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Do not be (A)rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words (B)be few.
For a dream comes through much activity,
And (C)a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

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Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of the fool through many words.

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Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

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