James 3:9-17

Holman Christian Standard Bible

⁹ We praise our^[a] Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it.^{(A) 10} Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, 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, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

¹³ Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness.^{(B) 14} But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth.^{(C) 15} Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^{(D) 16} For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.^(E)