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)

Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels^(AC) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle^(AD) within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill.^(AE) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive,^(AF) because you ask with wrong motives,^(AG) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous^(AH) people,^[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world^(AI) means enmity against God?^(AJ) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.^{(AK) 5} Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us^[b]?^{(AL) 6} But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,^(AN) and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(AO) Wash your hands,^(AP) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(AQ) you double-minded.^{(AR) 9} Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.^{(AS) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(AT)

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.^(AU) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[d] or judges them^(AV) speaks against the law^(AW) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,^(AX) but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,^(AY) the one who is able to save and destroy.^(AZ) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?^(BA)

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(BB) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{(BC) 14} Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.^{(BD) 15} Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(BE) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^{(BF) 17} If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.^(BG)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(BH) you rich people,^(BI) weep and wail^(BJ) because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^{(BK) 3} Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.^{(BL) 4} Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(BM) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(BN) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^{(BO) 5} You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(BP) in the day of slaughter.^{[e](BQ) 6} You have condemned and murdered^(BR) the innocent one,^(BS) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(BT) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(BU) for the autumn and spring rains.^{(BV) 8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(BW) is near.^{(BX) 9} Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(BY) or you will be judged. The Judge^(BZ) is standing at the door!^(CA)

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets^(CB) who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed^(CC) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance^(CD) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.^(CE) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.^(CF)

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.^(CG)

The Prayer of Faith

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.^(CH) Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.^{(CI) 14} Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders^(CJ) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil^(CK) in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith^(CL) will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins^(CM) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.^(CN) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.^(CO)

¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are.^(CP) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.^{(CQ) 18} Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.^(CR)

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth^(CS) and someone should bring that person back,^{(CT) 20} remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save^(CU) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.^(CV)