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James 3
English Standard Version
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
Santiago 3
Reina Valera Contemporánea
Santiago 3
Reina Valera Contemporánea
La lengua
3 Hermanos míos, no se convierta la mayoría de ustedes en maestros. Bien saben que el juicio que recibiremos será mayor. 2 Todos cometemos muchos errores. Quien no comete errores en lo que dice, es una persona perfecta, y además capaz de dominar todo su cuerpo. 3 A los caballos les ponemos un freno en la boca, para que nos obedezcan, y así podemos controlar todo su cuerpo. 4 Y fíjense en los barcos: Aunque son muy grandes e impulsados por fuertes vientos, se les dirige por un timón muy pequeño, y el piloto los lleva por donde quiere. 5 Así es la lengua. Aunque es un miembro muy pequeño, se jacta de grandes cosas. ¡Vean qué bosque tan grande puede incendiarse con un fuego tan pequeño!
6 Y la lengua es fuego; es un mundo de maldad. La lengua ocupa un lugar entre nuestros miembros, pero es capaz de contaminar todo el cuerpo; si el infierno la prende, puede inflamar nuestra existencia entera. 7 La gente puede domesticar y, en efecto, ha domesticado, a toda clase de bestias, aves, serpientes y animales marinos, 8 pero nadie puede domesticar a la lengua. Ésta es un mal indómito, que rebosa de veneno mortal. 9 Con la lengua bendecimos al Dios y Padre, y con ella maldecimos a los seres humanos, que han sido creados a imagen de Dios.(A) 10 De la misma boca salen bendiciones y maldiciones. Hermanos míos, ¡esto no puede seguir así! 11 ¿Acaso de una misma fuente puede brotar agua dulce y agua amarga? 12 No es posible, hermanos míos, que la higuera dé aceitunas, o que la vid dé higos. Ni tampoco puede ninguna fuente dar agua salada y agua dulce.
La sabiduría de lo alto
13 ¿Quién de ustedes es sabio y entendido? Demuéstrelo con su buena conducta, y por medio de actos realizados con la humildad propia de la sabiduría. 14 Pero si ustedes abrigan en su corazón amargura, envidia y rivalidad, no tienen de qué presumir y están falseando la verdad. 15 Esta clase de sabiduría no es la que desciende de lo alto, sino que es terrenal, estrictamente humana, y diabólica. 16 Pues donde hay envidias y rivalidades, allí hay confusión y toda clase de mal. 17 Pero la sabiduría que viene de lo alto es, ante todo, pura, y además pacífica, amable, benigna, llena de compasión y de buenos frutos, ecuánime y genuina. 18 Y el fruto de la justicia se siembra en paz para los que trabajan por la paz.
James 3
New International Version
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)
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC)
Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas
New International Version (NIV) 
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.