James 3
International Standard Version
Speak Wisely
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach[a] will be judged more severely than others.[b] 2 For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body. 3 Now if we put bits into horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well. 4 And look at ships! They are so big that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the helmsman directs.
5 In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it can boast of great achievements. A huge forest can be set on fire by a little flame. 6 The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell.[c] 7 For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God’s likeness. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers! 11 A spring cannot pour both fresh and brackish water from the same opening, can it? 12 My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Live Wisely
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. 15 That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. 16 For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.
17 However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds,[d] and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace[e] planted by peacemakers.
Footnotes
- James 3:1 The Gk. lacks who teach
- James 3:1 The Gk. lacks than others
- James 3:6 Gk. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom
- James 3:17 Lit. fruit
- James 3:18 Lit. is grown in peace
James 3
King James Version
3 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Jakobsbrevet 3
Svenska Folkbibeln
Den elaka tungan
3 Mina bröder, inte många bör bli lärare. Ni vet ju att vi skall få en strängare dom. 2 Vi begår alla många fel. Om någon inte felar i sitt tal, är han en fullkomlig man som också kan tygla hela sin kropp. 3 När vi lägger betsel i munnen på en häst för att han skall lyda oss, styr vi också hela hans kropp. 4 Se också på fartygen som är så stora och drivs av hårda vindar. Ändå styrs de dit rorsmannen vill med ett mycket litet roder. 5 Så är också tungan en liten lem men kan skryta över stora ting. Tänk på hur en liten eld kan antända en stor skog. 6 En sådan eld är tungan, en värld av ondska bland våra lemmar. Den smutsar ner hela vår kropp och sätter tillvarons hjul i brand och är själv antänd av Gehenna.[a]
7 Alla slags fyrfotadjur, fåglar, kräldjur och vattendjur låter sig tämjas och har blivit tämjda av människan. 8 Men tungan kan ingen människa tämja, ostyrig och ond som den är och full av dödligt gift. 9 Med den välsignar vi Herren och Fadern, och med den förbannar vi människorna, som är skapade till Guds avbild. 10 Från samma mun kommer välsignelse och förbannelse. Så får det inte vara, mina bröder. 11 Inte kan väl en källa från samma åder ge både sött och bittert vatten? 12 Mina bröder, inte kan väl ett fikonträd bära oliver eller en vinstock fikon? Inte heller kan en salt källa ge sött vatten.
Sann och falsk visdom
13 Är någon bland er vis och förståndig, då skall han visa sina gärningar genom ett klokt och vänligt uppträdande. 14 Men bär ni på bitter avund och stridslystnad i ert hjärta, skall ni inte skryta och tala emot sanningen. 15 En sådan vishet kommer inte ovanifrån utan är jordisk, oandlig, ja, demonisk. 16 Ty där avund och stridslystnad råder, där råder också oordning och allt som är ont. 17 Men visheten ovanifrån är först och främst ren, vidare fredlig, mild, foglig, fylld av barmhärtighet och goda frukter, opartisk och uppriktig. 18 Rättfärdighetens frukt sås i frid och ges åt dem som skapar frid.
Footnotes
- Jakobsbrevet 3:6 Gehenna Se not till Matt 5:22.
James 3
American Standard Version
3 Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive [a]heavier judgment. 2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 Now if we put the horses’ bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth. 5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, [b]how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! 6 And the tongue is [c]a fire: [d]the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of [e]nature, and is set on fire by [f]hell. 7 For every [g]kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed [h]by [i]mankind: 8 but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: 10 out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter? 12 can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? neither can salt water yield sweet.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, [j]sensual, [k]devilish. 16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without [l]variance, without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace [m]for them that make peace.
Footnotes
- James 3:1 Greek greater.
- James 3:5 Or, how great a forest
- James 3:6 Or, a fire, that world of iniquity: the tongue is among our members that which etc.
- James 3:6 Or, that world of iniquity, the tongue, is among our members that which etc.
- James 3:6 Or, birth
- James 3:6 Greek Gehenna.
- James 3:7 Greek nature.
- James 3:7 Or, unto
- James 3:7 Greek the human nature.
- James 3:15 Or, natural. Or, animal;
- James 3:15 Greek demoniacal.
- James 3:17 Or, doubtfulness. Or, partiality
- James 3:18 Or, by
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