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
Christian Standard Bible
Controlling the Tongue
3 Not many should become teachers, my brothers,[a] because you know 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, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.(C) 3 Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us,(D) we direct their whole bodies. 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 a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. 6 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. 7 Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(G) 9 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 pretense.(L) 18 And the fruit of righteousness(M) is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
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