Font Size
James 3:7-4:10
English Standard Version
James 3:7-4:10
English Standard Version
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, (A)full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people (B)who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[a] these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Wisdom from Above
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? (C)By his good conduct let him show his works (D)in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (E)jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not (F)the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, (G)demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But (H)the wisdom from above is first pure, then (I)peaceable, gentle, open to reason, (J)full of mercy and good fruits, (K)impartial and (L)sincere. 18 And (M)a harvest of righteousness (N)is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Warning Against Worldliness
4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[b] are (O)at war within you?[c] 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask (P)wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 (Q)You adulterous people![d] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? (R)Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit (S)that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But (T)he gives more grace. Therefore it says, (U)“God opposes the proud but (V)gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. (W)Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 (X)Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (Y)Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and (Z)purify your hearts, (AA)you double-minded. 9 (AB)Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 (AC)Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 3:7-4:10
New International Version
James 3:7-4:10
New International Version
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(A)
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.(B) 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?(C) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(D) by their good life, by deeds(E) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(F) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(G) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(H) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(I) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(J) there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(K) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(L) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(M) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(N) 18 Peacemakers(O) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(P)
Submit Yourselves to God
4 What causes fights and quarrels(Q) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle(R) within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill.(S) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive,(T) because you ask with wrong motives,(U) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous(V) people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world(W) means enmity against God?(X) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.(Y) 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]?(Z) 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,(AB) and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.(AC) Wash your hands,(AD) you sinners, and purify your hearts,(AE) you double-minded.(AF) 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.(AG) 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.(AH)
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.