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. ²For 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. ³Now ^(G)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well. ⁴Look 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. ⁵So 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! ⁶And ^(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. ⁷For 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. ⁸But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of ^(M)deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless ^(N)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, ^(O)who have been made in the likeness of God; ¹⁰from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. ¹¹Does 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

¹³Who among you is wise and understanding? ^(Q)Let him show by his ^(R)good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have bitter ^(S)jealousy and ^[k]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against ^(T)the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom is not that which comes down ^(U)from above, but is ^(V)earthly, ^[l]^(W)natural, ^(X)demonic. ¹⁶For where ^(Y)jealousy and ^[m]selfish ambition exist, ^[n]there is disorder and every evil thing. ¹⁷But 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. ¹⁸And 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

Luke 15:1-10

New American Standard Bible

The Lost Sheep

15 Now all the ^(A)tax collectors and ^[a]sinners were coming near ^[b]Jesus to listen to Him. ²And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and ^(B)eats with them.”

³And so He told them this parable, saying, ⁴“^(C)What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the ^[c]open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ ⁷I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

The Lost Coin

⁸“Or what woman, if she has ten ^[d]silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I had lost!’ ¹⁰In the same way, I tell you, there is joy ^(D)in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”