James 3
New American Standard Bible 1995
The Tongue Is a Fire
3 (A)Let not many of you become teachers, (B)my brethren, knowing that as such we 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 (F)bridle 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 entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 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 iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which (K)defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our [c]life, and is set on fire by [d](L)hell. 7 For every [e]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human [f]race. 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 both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both [g]fresh and bitter water? 12 (P)Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce [h]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 [i]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, [j](W)natural, (X)demonic. 16 For where (Y)jealousy and [k]selfish ambition exist, [l]there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom (Z)from above is first (AA)pure, then (AB)peaceable, (AC)gentle, [m]reasonable, (AD)full of mercy and good fruits, (AE)unwavering, without (AF)hypocrisy. 18 And the [n](AG)seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace [o]by those who make peace.
Footnotes
- James 3:1 Or greater condemnation
- James 3:2 Lit word
- 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 V 11, note 1
- James 3:14 Or strife
- James 3:15 Or unspiritual
- James 3:16 V 14, note 1
- James 3:16 I.e. in that place
- James 3:17 Or willing to yield
- James 3:18 Lit fruit of righteousness
- James 3:18 Or for
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
James 3
Jubilee Bible 2000
3 ¶ My brethren, make not unto yourselves many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For we all offend in many things. If any man offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to govern the whole body with restraint.
3 Behold, we put bits (or restraint) in the horses’ mouths to persuade them, and we govern their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they are so great are driven of fierce winds, yet they are governed with a very small rudder, wherever the governor desires.
5 In the same manner, the tongue is a very small member and boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every nature of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of beings in the sea may be tamed and is tamed by mankind,
8 but no man can tame the tongue, which is an evil that cannot be restrained and is full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless God, even the Father; and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a fountain send forth at the same place both sweet and bitter water?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, produce olive berries? or the vine, figs? In the same manner no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.
13 ¶ Who is wise and ready among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, boast not and do not be liars against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which descends from above, but is earthly, natural, diabolical.
16 For where there is envy and contention, there is confusion and every perverse work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, modest, benevolent, full of mercy and of good fruits, not judgmental, unfeigned.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace unto those that make peace.
Santiago 3
Ang Salita ng Dios (Tagalog Contemporary Bible)
Ang Dila
3 Mga kapatid, huwag basta-bastang maghangad na maging tagapagturo ang marami sa inyo, dahil alam ninyong mas mabigat ang paghatol sa aming mga nagtuturo. 2 Lahat tayo ay madalas magkamali. Kung mayroon mang hindi nagkakamali sa pananalita niya, isa siyang taong ganap at may kakayahang pigilin ang kanyang sarili. 3 Nirerendahan natin ang mga kabayo para sumunod saan man natin gustong papuntahin. 4 Isipin nʼyo rin ang mga barko na kahit napakalaki at itinutulak ng malakas na hangin ay napapabaling ng maliit na timon at napapapunta ng kapitan saan man niya gustuhin. 5 Ganoon din naman ang dila natin; kahit na maliit na bahagi ng katawan, nakakagawa ng malaking kayabangan. Isipin nʼyo kung gaano kalawak na gubat ang masusunog na galing lang sa maliit na apoy. 6 Ang dila ay tulad ng apoy. Napakaraming kasamaan ang nagmumula sa ating dila at ito ay nagpaparumi sa buong pagkatao natin. Katulad ito ng apoy na nanggagaling sa impyerno, at sumisira sa buong buhay natin. 7 Lahat ng uri ng hayop na lumalakad, lumilipad, gumagapang o nakatira sa tubig ay napapaamo ng tao. 8 Pero walang taong nakakagawa nito sa dila. Wala itong tigil sa kasamaan at puno ng lasong nakamamatay. 9 Sa pamamagitan ng dila, pinupuri natin ang ating Panginoon at Ama, pero sa pamamagitan din nito ay isinusumpa natin ang ating kapwa na nilikhang kalarawan ng Dios. 10 Mula sa iisang bibig nanggagaling ang pagpupuri at pagsumpa. Mga kapatid, hindi dapat ganyan. 11 Maaari bang lumabas sa iisang bukal ang matabang na tubig at ang maalat na tubig? Hindi! 12 Mga kapatid, hindi rin maaaring mamunga ng olibo ang puno ng igos o ng igos ang ubas. Hindi rin maaaring makakuha ng tubig-tabang sa tubig-alat.
Ang Karunungang Mula sa Dios
13 Sino sa inyo ang marunong at nakakaunawa? Ipakita niya na talagang marunong siya sa pamamagitan ng mabuting pamumuhay na may pagpapakumbaba. 14 Kung pagkainggit at pagkamakasarili naman ang umiiral sa inyong puso, huwag ninyong ipagyabang na may karunungan kayo, dahil pinasisinungalingan nʼyo ang katotohanan. 15 Ang ganitong karunungan ay hindi nagmumula sa Dios kundi sa mundo. Mula ito sa diyablo at hindi sa Banal na Espiritu. 16 Sapagkat kung saan umiiral ang pagkainggit at pagkamakasarili, naroon din ang kaguluhan at lahat ng uri ng kasamaan. 17 Ngunit ang taong may karunungang mula sa Dios, una sa lahat ay may malinis na pamumuhay. Maibigin siya sa kapayapaan, mahinahon, masunurin, puno ng awa at kabutihan, walang pinapaboran, at hindi nagkukunwari. 18 Ang taong maibigin sa kapayapaan at nagpapalaganap nito ay nagdudulot ng maayos na relasyon sa iba.
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