James 3
Complete Jewish Bible
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, since you know that we will be judged more severely. 2 For we all stumble in many ways; if someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who can bridle his whole body. 3 If we put a bit into a horse’s mouth to make it obey us, we control its whole body as well. 4 And think of a ship — although it is huge and is driven by strong winds, yet the pilot can steer it wherever he wants with just a small rudder. 5 So too the tongue is a tiny part of the body, yet it boasts great things. See how a little fire sets a whole forest ablaze! 6 Yes, the tongue is a fire, a world of wickedness. The tongue is so placed in our body that it defiles every part of it, setting ablaze the whole of our life; and it is set on fire by Gei-Hinnom itself. 7 For people have tamed and continue to tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures; 8 but the tongue no one can tame — it is an unstable and evil thing, full of death-dealing poison! 9 With it we bless Adonai, the Father; and with it we curse people, who were made in the image of God.[a] 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing! Brothers, it isn’t right for things to be this way. 11 A spring doesn’t send both fresh and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers? or a grapevine, figs? Neither does salt water produce fresh.
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him demonstrate it by his good way of life, by actions done in the humility that grows out of wisdom. 14 But if you harbor in your hearts bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don’t boast and attack the truth with lies! 15 This wisdom is not the kind that comes down from above; on the contrary, it is worldly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where there are jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disharmony and every foul practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is, first of all, pure, then peaceful, kind, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 And peacemakers who sow seed in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Footnotes
- James 3:9 Genesis 1:26–27
James 3
Legacy Standard Bible
The Tongue Is a Fire
3 (A)Do not, many of you, become teachers, (B)my brothers, knowing that we will receive 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 (F)bridle the entire body as well. 3 Now (G)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wills. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it (H)boasts of great things.
(I)Behold 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 our members as that which (K)defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our [c]existence, and is set on fire by [d](L)hell. 7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of (M)deadly poison. 9 With it we bless (N)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, (O)who have been made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a fountain pour forth from the same opening [e]fresh and bitter water? 12 (P)Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can saltwater produce [f]fresh.
Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (Q)Let him show by his (R)good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (S)jealousy and [g]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against (T)the truth. 15 This wisdom is not coming down (U)from above, but is (V)earthly, [h](W)natural, (X)demonic. 16 For where (Y)jealousy and [i]selfish ambition exist, [j]there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom (Z)from above is first (AA)pure, then (AB)peaceable, (AC)considerate, submissive, (AD)full of mercy and good fruits, (AE)without doubting, without (AF)hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness (AG)is sown in peace [k]by those who make peace.
Footnotes
- James 3:1 Or greater condemnation
- James 3:2 Lit word
- James 3:6 Or birth
- James 3:6 Gr Gehenna
- James 3:11 Lit sweet
- James 3:12 v 11, note 1
- James 3:14 Or strife
- James 3:15 Or unspiritual
- James 3:16 v 14, note 1
- James 3:16 In that place
- James 3:18 Or for
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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