James 3
English Standard Version
Taming the Tongue
3 (A)Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For (B)we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, (C)he is a perfect man, (D)able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put (E)bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet (F)it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And (G)the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, (H)staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell.[b] 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, (I)full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people (J)who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[c] 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? (K)By his good conduct let him show his works (L)in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (M)jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not (N)the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, (O)demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But (P)the wisdom from above is first pure, then (Q)peaceable, gentle, open to reason, (R)full of mercy and good fruits, (S)impartial and (T)sincere. 18 And (U)a harvest of righteousness (V)is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Footnotes
- James 3:6 Or wheel of birth
- James 3:6 Greek Gehenna
- James 3:10 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12
Jakob 3
nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible)
Var noga med era ord
3 Mina syskon, inte många av er ska bli lärare[a], för ni vet ju att vi ska granskas strängare. 2 Alla gör vi fel på många sätt. Om någon lyckas med att inte fela i sitt tal, är han fullkomlig och har också kontroll över sin kropp. 3 Genom att lägga ett betsel i munnen på en häst kan vi få den att lyda oss och styr då hela djuret. 4 Och tänk på fartyg: med ett litet roder kan styrmannen få ett stort fartyg att åka precis dit han vill, även om vindarna är starka. 5 På samma sätt är det med tungan. Den är en liten del av kroppen, men den kan skryta över stora ting. En liten gnista kan sätta eld på en hel skog. 6 Så är också tungan en eld, en ondskans värld bland våra kroppsdelar. Den orenar hela kroppen, sätter livshjulet i brand och självtänds från Gehenna[b].
7 Människan har makt att kontrollera, och har också tagit kontroll över alla slags fyrfotadjur, fåglar, kräldjur och havsdjur. 8 Men sin egen tunga kan ingen människa få kontroll över. Den är orolig, ond och full av dödligt gift. 9 Med den hyllar vi vår Herre och Fader, och med den förbannar vi människorna, som Gud har skapat till att vara lika honom.[c] 10 Ur samma mun kommer både välsignelse och förbannelse. Så får det inte vara. 11 Samma källa kan väl inte ge både sötvatten och bittert vatten? 12 Mina syskon: Skulle oliver växa på fikonträd eller fikon på vinrankor, eller en saltkälla ge sötvatten?
Tecken på sann vishet
13 Om någon bland er är vis och insiktsfull, ska han gå före med gott exempel och visa detta i praktisk handling, i vishet, utan att framhäva sig själv. 14 Men om ni bär bitter avundsjuka och själviskhet i era hjärtan, ska ni inte skryta och tala osanning. 15 En sådan vishet kommer inte från ovan, utan är jordisk, oandlig och demonisk. 16 Där det finns avundsjuka och själviska ambitioner, där finns oordning och all slags ondska.
17 Den vishet som kommer från ovan är för det första ren, men också fridsam, mild, hänsynsfull, full av barmhärtighet och godhet, opartisk och uppriktig. 18 Rättfärdighetens skörd sås i frid och ges åt dem som verkar för frid.
Footnotes
- 3:1 Lärare i andliga sanningar.
- 3:6 Se not till Matt 5:21.
- 3:9 Jfr 1 Mos 1:26-27.
James 3
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)
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Swedish Contemporary Bible (nuBibeln) Copyright © 2015 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.

