James 3
New American Standard Bible
The Tongue Is a Fire
3 (A)Do not become teachers in large numbers, (B)my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur 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 [c](F)rein in the whole body as well. 3 Now (G)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well. 4 Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it (H)boasts of great things.
(I)See 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 [d]our body’s parts as that which (K)defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our [e]life, and is set on fire by [f](L)hell. 7 For every [g]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human [h]race. 8 But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of (M)deadly poison. 9 With it we bless (N)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, (O)who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both [i]fresh and bitter water? 12 (P)Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce [j]fresh.
Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (Q)Let him show by his (R)good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (S)jealousy and [k]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against (T)the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down (U)from above, but is (V)earthly, [l](W)natural, (X)demonic. 16 For where (Y)jealousy and [m]selfish ambition exist, [n]there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom (Z)from above is first (AA)pure, then (AB)peace-loving, (AC)gentle, [o]reasonable, (AD)full of mercy and good fruits, [p](AE)impartial, free of (AF)hypocrisy. 18 And the (AG)fruit of righteousness is sown in peace [q]by those who make peace.
Footnotes
- James 3:1 Or greater condemnation; i.e., for erroneous doctrine
- James 3:2 Lit word
- James 3:2 Or hold in check
- James 3:6 Lit our parts
- James 3:6 Or existence, origin
- James 3:6 Gr Gehenna
- James 3:7 Lit nature
- James 3:7 Lit nature
- James 3:11 Lit sweet
- James 3:12 Lit sweet
- James 3:14 Or strife
- James 3:15 Or unspiritual
- James 3:16 Or strife
- James 3:16 I.e., in that place
- James 3:17 Or willing to yield
- James 3:17 Or unwavering
- James 3:18 Or for
Yaakov 3
Orthodox Jewish Bible
3 Not many of you, Achim b’Moshiach, should be Morim for Moshiach, als (since), as far as concerns Mishpat Hashem, you have da’as that we Messianic morim will have the chomer haDin (rigor of the Law) fall on us more severely.
2 For all of us stumble variously. If anyone as far as lashon hora is concerned, does not stumble, this one is an ish tamim able to bridle also the entire guf (body). [1Kgs 8:46; Ps 39:1; Prov 10:19]
3 And if we put bits into the mouths of susim (horses) to bring them into mishma’at (obedience), in just this way we direct their whole gufot (bodies).
4 Hinei, also the oniyot (ships), even though gedolot and driven by gales, are guided by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the one steering directs.
5 So also the lashon (tongue), an evar katon (small member) speaks of RAVREVAN ("boastful things" DANIEL 7:8,20). Hinei, an eish ketanah (small fire) and yet how great a forest it can set ablaze! [Ps 12:3,4; 73:8,9]
6 And the lashon is an Eish, the lashon is made an Olam HaAvel (World of Iniquity) among our evarim (members), defiling with a stain kol haGuf (whole body), and setting ablaze the course of life, and is itself set by eish in Gehinnom. [MISHLE 16:27]
7 For every species both of wild animals and birds, reptiles and marine creatures is tamed and has been tamed by humankind.
8 But the Lashon no one of Bnei Adam is able to tame, an uncontrollable ra’ah (evil), full of deadly zuhamah (contamination).
9 With this we say a bracha to Hashem, Adoneinu and Avoteynu, and with this we put a kelalah (curse) on Bnei Adam, who have been created according to the demut Elohim [Gn 1:26,27).
10 Out of the same PEH comes forth bracha and also kelalah. My Achim b’Moshiach, these things ought not to be.
11 Surely not out of the same makor (fountain) pours forth mayim both sweet and bitter?
12 Surely an etz te’enah (fig tree) cannot yield olives, my Achim b’Moshiach, or a grape vine figs? Neither can salt water yield sweet water.
13 Who has chochmah and binah among you? Let him show by his hitnahagut hatovah (good conduct) that the ma’asim of him are of the shiflut (lowliness) of chochmah.
14 But if bitter kina (jealousy) you have and anochiyut (selfishness) in your levavot, do not boast and speak sheker against HaEmes.
15 This is not the Chochmah coming down and descending from above, but is of the Olam Hazeh, of this world and of shedim.
16 For where kina and anochiyut are, there is tohu vavohu (disorder, chaos) and every ra’ah.
17 But the chochmah from above is berishonah (in the first place) tehorah (pure), then ohevet shalom (peaceloving), then eidel (gentle) and considerate, then full of rachamim and p’ri tov, and without maso panim and tzevi’ut.
18 And the p’ri haTzedek is shalom sown by the ones making shalom. (Prov 11:18; Isa 32:17; Hos 10:12]
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