James 3-4
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.
Things to Avoid
4 [p]What is the source of quarrels and (AH)conflicts among you? [q]Is not the source your pleasures that wage (AI)war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you (AJ)commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and (AK)do not receive, because you ask [r]with wrong motives, so that you may spend it [s]on your pleasures. 4 You (AL)adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with (AM)the world is (AN)hostility toward God? (AO)Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture (AP)speaks to no purpose: “[t]He [u]jealously desires (AQ)the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But (AR)He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “(AS)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 (AT)Submit therefore to God. (AU)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 (AV)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (AW)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and (AX)purify your hearts, you (AY)double-minded. 9 (AZ)Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 (BA)Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
11 (BB)Do not speak against one another, (BC)brethren. He who speaks against a brother or (BD)judges his brother, speaks against (BE)the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not (BF)a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one (BG)Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is (BH)able to save and to destroy; but (BI)who are you who judge your neighbor?
13 (BJ)Come now, you who say, “(BK)Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 [v]Yet you do not know [w]what your life will be like tomorrow. (BL)You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 [x]Instead, you ought to say, “(BM)If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your [y]arrogance; (BN)all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, (BO)to one who knows the [z]right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
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 4:1 Lit From where wars and from where fightings
- James 4:1 Lit Are they not from here, from your
- James 4:3 Lit wickedly
- James 4:3 Lit in
- James 4:5 Or The spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy
- James 4:5 Lit desires to jealousy
- James 4:14 Lit Who do not
- James 4:14 Or what will happen tomorrow. What kind of life is yours?
- James 4:15 Lit Instead of your saying
- James 4:16 Or pretensions
- James 4:17 Or good
Psalm 51
New American Standard Bible 1995
A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when [a]Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
51 (A)Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of (B)Your compassion (C)blot out my transgressions.
2 (D)Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And (E)cleanse me from my sin.
3 For [b]I (F)know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 (G)Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is (H)evil in Your sight,
So that (I)You [c]are justified [d]when You speak
And [e]blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was (J)brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire (K)truth in the [f]innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will (L)make me know wisdom.
7 [g]Purify me (M)with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
[h]Wash me, and I shall be (N)whiter than snow.
8 [i]Make me to hear (O)joy and gladness,
Let the (P)bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 (Q)Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 (R)Create [j]in me a (S)clean heart, O God,
And renew [k]a (T)steadfast spirit within me.
11 (U)Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your (V)Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the (W)joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a (X)willing spirit.
13 Then I will (Y)teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will [l]be (Z)converted to You.
14 Deliver me from (AA)bloodguiltiness, O God, (AB)the God of my salvation;
Then my (AC)tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, [m](AD)open my lips,
That my mouth may (AE)declare Your praise.
16 For You (AF)do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a (AG)broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18 (AH)By Your favor do good to Zion;
[n](AI)Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will delight in [o](AJ)righteous sacrifices,
In (AK)burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then [p]young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
Footnotes
- Psalm 51:1 2 Sam 12:1
- Psalm 51:3 Or I myself know
- Psalm 51:4 Or may be in the right
- Psalm 51:4 Many mss read in Your words
- Psalm 51:4 Lit pure
- Psalm 51:6 Or inward parts
- Psalm 51:7 Or May You purify...that I may be clean
- Psalm 51:7 Or May You wash
- Psalm 51:8 Or May You make
- Psalm 51:10 Lit for
- Psalm 51:10 Or an upright
- Psalm 51:13 Or turn back
- Psalm 51:15 Or may You open
- Psalm 51:18 Or May You build
- Psalm 51:19 Or sacrifices of righteousness
- Psalm 51:19 Lit they will offer young bulls
Proverbs 22:17-19
New American Standard Bible 1995
17 (A)Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be (B)pleasant if you keep them within you,
[a]That they may be ready on your lips.
19 So that your (C)trust may be in the Lord,
I have [b]taught you today, even you.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:18 Lit They together
- Proverbs 22:19 Lit made you know
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
