James 3
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
3 Not mē many polys of you should become ginomai teachers didaskalos, my egō brothers adelphos, for you know oida that hoti those of us who teach will be judged lambanō by a stricter megas standard krima. 2 For gar we ptaiō all hapas stumble ptaiō in many ways polys. If ei someone tis does ptaiō not ou stumble ptaiō in en what he says logos, he houtos is a mature teleios individual anēr, able dynatos to bridle chalinagōgeō his ho whole holos body sōma as well kai. 3 Now de if ei we put ballō bits chalinos into eis the ho mouths stoma of ho horses hippos · ho to eis make them autos obey peithō us hēmeis, then kai we guide metagō their autos entire holos · ho body sōma. 4 Or kai consider idou · ho ships ploion: though they are eimi so large tēlikoutos and kai are driven elaunō by hypo strong sklēros winds anemos, they are steered metagō by hypo a very small elachistos rudder pēdalion, wherever hopou the ho impulse hormē of the ho pilot euthunō directs boulomai. 5 So houtōs also kai is eimi the ho tongue glōssa a small mikros member melos, yet kai it boasts aucheō of great things megas. See idou how large hēlikos a forest hylē is set on fire anaptō by such a small hēlikos flame pyr. 6 And kai the ho tongue glōssa is a fire pyr! The ho tongue glōssa is a ho world kosmos of ho iniquity adikia set kathistēmi among en · ho our hēmeis members melos; it ho defiles spiloō the ho whole holos body sōma, · kai sets on fire phlogizō the ho course trochos of our ho life genesis, and kai is set on fire phlogizō by hypo · ho hell geenna.
7 For gar every pas species physis of beast thērion and kai bird peteinon, reptile herpeton and kai sea creature enalios, can be tamed damazō, and kai has been tamed damazō by the ho human anthrōpinos species physis. · ho 8 But de the ho tongue glōssa, no one oudeis is able dynamai to tame damazō; it is a restless akatastatos evil kakos, full mestos of deadly thanatēphoros poison ios. 9 With en it autos we bless eulogeō our ho Lord kyrios and kai Father patēr, and kai with en it autos we curse kataraomai those ho who ho are made ginomai in kata the likeness homoiōsis of God theos. 10 From ek the ho same autos mouth stoma come exerchomai blessing eulogia and kai cursing katara. My egō brothers adelphos, this houtos should chrē not ou happen ginomai. 11 Does a ho spring pēgē pour forth bryō water from ek the ho same autos opening opē that is both · ho fresh glykys and kai · ho brackish pikros? 12 My egō brothers adelphos, can dynamai a fig tree sykē produce poieō olives elaia, or ē a grapevine ampelos figs sykon? Neither oute can a salt halykos spring supply poieō fresh glykys water hydōr.
13 Who tis is wise sophos and kai understanding epistēmōn among en you hymeis? By ek his ho exemplary kalos conduct anastrophē let him show deiknymi · ho his autos works ergon done in en the gentleness prautēs born of wisdom sophia. 14 But de if ei you have echō bitter pikros jealousy zēlos and kai selfish ambition eritheia in en · ho your hymeis heart kardia, do not mē be arrogant katakauchaomai and kai tell lies pseudomai against kata the ho truth alētheia. 15 This houtos is eimi not ou the ho wisdom sophia that comes down katerchomai from above anōthen, but alla is earthly epigeios, unspiritual psychikos, demonic daimoniōdēs. 16 For gar where hopou jealousy zēlos and kai selfish ambition eritheia exist, there ekei you will find disorder akatastasia and kai every pas evil phaulos practice pragma. 17 But de the ho wisdom sophia from above anōthen is eimi first prōton of all pure hagnos, then epeita peaceable eirēnikos, gentle epieikēs, open to reason eupeithēs, full mestos of mercy eleos and kai good agathos fruits karpos, free from prejudice adiakritos and hypocrisy anypokritos. 18 And de a harvest karpos of righteousness dikaiosynē is sown speirō in en peace eirēnē by those ho who make poieō peace eirēnē.
James 3
New English Translation
The Power of the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,[a] because you know that we will be judged more strictly.[b] 2 For we all stumble[c] in many ways. If someone does not stumble[d] in what he says,[e] he is a perfect individual,[f] able to control the entire body as well. 3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.[g] 4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body,[h] yet it has great pretensions.[i] Think[j] how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents[k] the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It[l] pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence—and is set on fire by hell.[m]
7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature[n] is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.[o] 8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless[p] evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord[q] and Father, and with it we curse people[r] made in God’s image. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.[s] 11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters,[t] or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.
True Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.[u] 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. 15 Such[v] wisdom does not come[w] from above but is earthly, natural,[x] demonic. 16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating,[y] full of mercy and good fruit,[z] impartial, and not hypocritical.[aa] 18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness[ab] is planted[ac] in peace among[ad] those who make peace.
Footnotes
- James 3:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
- James 3:1 tn Grk “will receive a greater judgment.”
- James 3:2 tn Or “fail.”
- James 3:2 tn Or “fail.”
- James 3:2 tn Grk “in speech.”
- James 3:2 tn The word for “man” or “individual” is ἀνήρ (anēr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” But it sometimes is used generically to mean “anyone,” “a person,” as here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 2).
- James 3:3 tn Grk “their entire body.”
- James 3:5 tn Grk “a small member.”
- James 3:5 tn Grk “boasts of great things.”
- James 3:5 tn Grk “Behold.”
- James 3:6 tn Grk “makes itself,” “is made.”
- James 3:6 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
- James 3:6 sn The word translated hell is “Gehenna” (γέεννα, geenna), a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew words ge hinnom (“Valley of Hinnom”). This was the valley along the south side of Jerusalem. In OT times it was used for human sacrifices to the pagan god Molech (cf. Jer 7:31; 19:5-6; 32:35), and it came to be used as a place where human excrement and rubbish were disposed of and burned. In the intertestamental period, it came to be used symbolically as the place of divine punishment (cf. 1 En. 27:2; 90:26; 4 Ezra 7:36).
- James 3:7 tn Grk (plurals), “every kind of animals and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures.”
- James 3:7 tn Grk “the human species.”
- James 3:8 tc Most mss (C Ψ 1611 1739c 1244 M as well as a few versions and fathers) read “uncontrollable” (ἀκατασχετόν, akatascheton), while most of the more significant witnesses (א A B K P 1175 1243 1735 1739* latt co) have “restless” (ἀκατάστατον, akatastaton). Externally, the latter reading should be preferred. Internally, however, things get a bit more complex. The notion of being uncontrollable is well suited to the context, especially as a counterbalance to v. 8a, though for this very reason scribes may have been tempted to replace ἀκατάστατον with ἀκατασχετόν. In a semantically parallel early Christian text, ἀκατάστατος (akatastatos) was considered strong enough of a term to denounce slander as “a restless demon” (Herm. 27:3). On the other hand, ἀκατάστατον may have been substituted for ἀκατασχετόν by way of assimilation to 1:8 (especially since both words were relatively rare, scribes may have replaced the less familiar with one that was already used in this letter). On internal evidence, it is difficult to decide, though ἀκατασχετόν is slightly preferred. However, in light of the strong support for ἀκατάστατον, and the less-than-decisive internal evidence, ἀκατάστατον is deemed more likely to be the initial reading.
- James 3:9 tc Most later mss (M), along with several versional witnesses, have θεόν (theon, “God”) here instead of κύριον (kurion, “Lord”). Such is a predictable variant since nowhere else in the NT is God described as “Lord and Father,” but he is called “God and Father” on several occasions. Further, the reading κύριον is well supported by early and diversified witnesses (P20 א A B C P Ψ 33 81 945 1241 1739), rendering it as the overwhelmingly preferred reading.
- James 3:9 tn Grk “men”; but here ἀνθρώπους (anthrōpous) has generic force, referring to both men and women.
- James 3:10 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
- James 3:12 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
- James 3:13 tn Grk “works in the gentleness of wisdom.”
- James 3:15 tn Grk “This.”
- James 3:15 tn Grk “come down”; “descend.”
- James 3:15 tn Grk “soulish,” which describes life apart from God, characteristic of earthly human life as opposed to what is spiritual. Cf. 1 Cor 2:14; 15:44-46; Jude 19.
- James 3:17 tn Or “willing to yield,” “open to persuasion.”
- James 3:17 tn Grk “fruits.” The plural Greek term καρπούς has been translated with the collective singular “fruit.”
- James 3:17 tn Or “sincere.”
- James 3:18 tn Grk “the fruit of righteousness,” meaning righteous living as a fruit, as the thing produced.
- James 3:18 tn Grk “is sown.”
- James 3:18 tn Or “for,” or possibly “by.”
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