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James 3-5
New American Standard Bible

The Tongue Is a Fire

3 (A)Do not become teachers in large numbers, (B)my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur 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 [c](F)rein in the whole body as well. 3 Now (G)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well. 4 Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it (H)boasts of great things.

(I)See 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 [d]our body’s parts as that which (K)defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our [e]life, and is set on fire by [f](L)hell. 7 For every [g]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human [h]race. 8 But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of (M)deadly poison. 9 With it we bless (N)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, (O)who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both [i]fresh and bitter water? 12 (P)Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce [j]fresh.

Wisdom from Above

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (Q)Let him show by his (R)good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (S)jealousy and [k]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against (T)the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down (U)from above, but is (V)earthly, [l](W)natural, (X)demonic. 16 For where (Y)jealousy and [m]selfish ambition exist, [n]there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom (Z)from above is first (AA)pure, then (AB)peace-loving, (AC)gentle, [o]reasonable, (AD)full of mercy and good fruits, [p](AE)impartial, free of (AF)hypocrisy. 18 And the (AG)fruit of righteousness is sown in peace [q]by those who make peace.

Things to Avoid

4 [r]What is the source of quarrels and (AH)conflicts among you? [s]Is the source not your pleasures that wage (AI)war in [t]your body’s parts? 2 You lust and do not have, so you (AJ)commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and (AK)do not receive, because you ask [u]with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request [v]on your pleasures. 4 You (AL)adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with (AM)the world is (AN)hostility toward God? (AO)Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture (AP)says to no purpose, “[w]He [x]jealously desires (AQ)the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But (AR)He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “(AS)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 (AT)Submit therefore to God. But [y](AU)resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 (AV)Come close to God and He will come close to you. (AW)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and (AX)purify your hearts, you (AY)[z]double-minded. 9 (AZ)Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. 10 (BA)Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

11 (BB)Do not speak against one another, (BC)brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or (BD)judges his brother or sister, speaks against (BE)the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not (BF)a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one (BG)Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is (BH)able to save and to destroy; but (BI)who are you, [aa]judging your neighbor?

13 (BJ)Come now, you who say, “(BK)Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 [ab]Yet you do not know [ac]what your life will be like tomorrow. (BL)For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. 15 [ad]Instead, you ought to say, “(BM)If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your [ae]arrogance; (BN)all such boasting is evil. 17 So (BO)for one who knows the [af]right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.

Misuse of Riches

5 (BP)Come now, (BQ)you rich people, (BR)weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 (BS)Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have corroded, and their corrosion will [ag]serve as a testimony against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is (BT)in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, (BU)the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and (BV)the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of (BW)the Lord [ah]of armies. 5 You have [ai](BX)lived for pleasure on the earth and lived luxuriously; you have [aj]fattened your hearts in (BY)a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and [ak](BZ)put to death (CA)the righteous person; he offers you no resistance.

Exhortation

7 Therefore be patient, (CB)brothers and sisters, (CC)until the coming of the Lord. (CD)The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until [al]it gets (CE)the early and late rains. 8 (CF)You too be patient; (CG)strengthen your hearts, for (CH)the coming of the Lord is (CI)near. 9 (CJ)Do not [am]complain, (CK)brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, (CL)the Judge is standing [an](CM)right at the [ao]door. 10 As an example, (CN)brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take (CO)the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those (CP)blessed who endured. You have heard of (CQ)the [ap]endurance of Job and have seen (CR)the [aq]outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that (CS)the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

12 But above all, (CT)my brothers and sisters, (CU)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but [ar]your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you do not fall under judgment.

13 Is anyone among you (CV)suffering? (CW)Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to (CX)sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for (CY)the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, [as](CZ)anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the (DA)prayer of faith will [at](DB)restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will (DC)raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [au]they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, (DD)confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be (DE)healed. (DF)A [av]prayer of a righteous person, when it is [aw]brought about, can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was (DG)a man with a nature like ours, and (DH)he prayed [ax]earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for (DI)three years and six months. 18 Then he (DJ)prayed again, and (DK)the sky [ay]poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

19 My brothers and sisters, (DL)if anyone among you strays from (DM)the truth and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will (DN)save his soul from death and (DO)cover a multitude of sins.

Footnotes

  1. James 3:1 Or greater condemnation; i.e., for erroneous doctrine
  2. James 3:2 Lit word
  3. James 3:2 Or hold in check
  4. James 3:6 Lit our parts
  5. James 3:6 Or existence, origin
  6. James 3:6 Gr Gehenna
  7. James 3:7 Lit nature
  8. James 3:7 Lit nature
  9. James 3:11 Lit sweet
  10. James 3:12 Lit sweet
  11. James 3:14 Or strife
  12. James 3:15 Or unspiritual
  13. James 3:16 Or strife
  14. James 3:16 I.e., in that place
  15. James 3:17 Or willing to yield
  16. James 3:17 Or unwavering
  17. James 3:18 Or for
  18. James 4:1 Lit From where wars and from where fightings
  19. James 4:1 Lit Are they not from here, from your
  20. James 4:1 Lit your parts
  21. James 4:3 Lit wrongly
  22. James 4:3 Lit in
  23. James 4:5 Or The spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy
  24. James 4:5 Lit desires to jealousy
  25. James 4:7 Or oppose
  26. James 4:8 I.e., chronic doubters
  27. James 4:12 Lit the one judging
  28. James 4:14 Lit Who do not
  29. James 4:14 Or what will happen tomorrow. What kind of life is yours?
  30. James 4:15 Lit Instead of your saying
  31. James 4:16 Or pretensions
  32. James 4:17 Or good
  33. James 5:3 Lit be for
  34. James 5:4 Gr sabaoth, for Heb tsebaoth
  35. James 5:5 Or led a life of self-indulgence
  36. James 5:5 Lit nourished
  37. James 5:6 Or murdered
  38. James 5:7 Or he
  39. James 5:9 Lit groan
  40. James 5:9 Lit before
  41. James 5:9 Lit doors
  42. James 5:11 Or steadfastness
  43. James 5:11 Lit end of the Lord
  44. James 5:12 Lit yours is to be yes, yes, and no, no
  45. James 5:14 Lit having anointed
  46. James 5:15 Lit save
  47. James 5:15 Lit it
  48. James 5:16 Or supplication
  49. James 5:16 I.e., granted by God
  50. James 5:17 Lit with prayer
  51. James 5:18 Lit gave
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James 3-5
New International Version

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(B) more strictly.(C) 2 We all stumble(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(E) is perfect,(F) able to keep their whole body in check.(G)

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(H) 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(I) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire,(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(K) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(L)

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.(M)

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.(N) 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?(O) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(P) by their good life, by deeds(Q) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(R) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(S) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(T) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(U) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(V) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(W) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(X) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(Y) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(Z) 18 Peacemakers(AA) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(AB)

Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels(AC) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle(AD) within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill.(AE) 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,(AF) because you ask with wrong motives,(AG) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous(AH) people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world(AI) means enmity against God?(AJ) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.(AK) 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]?(AL) 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[c](AM)

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,(AN) and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.(AO) Wash your hands,(AP) you sinners, and purify your hearts,(AQ) you double-minded.(AR) 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.(AS) 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.(AT)

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.(AU) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[d] or judges them(AV) speaks against the law(AW) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,(AX) but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,(AY) the one who is able to save and destroy.(AZ) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?(BA)

Boasting About Tomorrow

13 Now listen,(BB) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”(BC) 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.(BD) 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,(BE) we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.(BF) 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.(BG)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,(BH) you rich people,(BI) weep and wail(BJ) because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.(BK) 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.(BL) 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers(BM) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries(BN) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.(BO) 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves(BP) in the day of slaughter.[e](BQ) 6 You have condemned and murdered(BR) the innocent one,(BS) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.(BT) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting(BU) for the autumn and spring rains.(BV) 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming(BW) is near.(BX) 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,(BY) or you will be judged. The Judge(BZ) is standing at the door!(CA)

10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets(CB) who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed(CC) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance(CD) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.(CE) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.(CF)

12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.(CG)

The Prayer of Faith

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.(CH) Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.(CI) 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders(CJ) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil(CK) in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith(CL) will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins(CM) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.(CN) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.(CO)

17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are.(CP) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.(CQ) 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.(CR)

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth(CS) and someone should bring that person back,(CT) 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save(CU) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.(CV)

Footnotes

  1. James 4:4 An allusion to covenant unfaithfulness; see Hosea 3:1.
  2. James 4:5 Or that the spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely; or that the Spirit he caused to dwell in us longs jealously
  3. James 4:6 Prov. 3:34
  4. James 4:11 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.
  5. James 5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting
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