James 3
New Testament for Everyone
Taming the tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters; you know that we will be judged more severely. 2 All of us make many mistakes, after all. If anyone makes no mistakes in what they say, such a person is a fully complete human being, capable of keeping firm control over the whole body as well. 3 We put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and then we can direct their whole bodies. 4 Consider, too, the case of large ships; it takes strong winds to blow them along, but one small rudder will turn them whichever way the helmsman desires and decides. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a little member but boasts great things. See how small a fire it takes to set a large forest ablaze! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of injustice, with its place established right there among our members. It defiles the whole body; it sets the wheel of nature ablaze, and is itself set ablaze by hell. 7 Every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, you see, can be tamed, and has been tamed, by humans. 8 But no single human is able to tame the tongue. It is an irrepressible evil, full of deadly poison. 9 By it we bless the Lord and father; and by it we curse humans who are made in God’s likeness! 10 Blessing and curses come out of the same mouth! My dear family, it isn’t right that it should be like that. 11 Does a spring put out both sweet and bitter water from the same source? 12 Dear friends, can a fig tree bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water yield fresh.
True and false wisdom
13 Who is wise and discerning among you? Such a person should, by their upright behavior, display their works in the humility of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and contention in your hearts, don’t boast, and tell lies against the truth. 15 This isn’t the wisdom that comes from above. It is earthly, merely human, coming from the world of demons. 16 For where there is jealousy and contention, there you will get unruly behavior and every kind of evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from above is first holy, then peaceful, gentle, compliant, filled with mercy and good fruits, unbiased, sincere. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
