Jam 3 | NASB1995 | STEP | Let not many of you become teachers , my brethren , knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment .

James 3

The Tongue Is a Fire

1 ^aLet not many of you become teachers, ^bmy brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a ^{▼▼ Or greater condemnation}stricter judgment. 2 For we all ^dstumble in many ways. ^eIf anyone does not stumble in ^{▼▼ Lit word}what he says, he is a ^gperfect man, able to ^hbridle the whole body as well. 3 Now ⁱif 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 ^jboasts of great things.

^kSee how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And ^lthe tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which ^mdefiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our ^{▼▼ Or existence, origin}life, and is set on fire by ^{▼▼ Gr Gehenna
,} ^phell. 7 For every ^{▼▼ Lit nature}species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human ^{▼▼ Lit nature}race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of ^sdeadly poison. 9 With it we bless ^t our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, ^uwho 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 ^{▼▼ Lit sweet}fresh and bitter water? 12 ^wCan a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce ^{▼▼ V 11, note 1}fresh.

Wisdom from Above

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? ^yLet him show by his ^zgood behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter ^aajealousy and ^{▼▼ Or strife}selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against ^acthe truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down ^adfrom above, but is ^aeearthly, ^{▼▼ Or unspiritual
,} ^agnatural, ^ahdemonic. 16 For where ^aijealousy and ^{▼▼ V 14, note 1}selfish ambition exist, ^{▼▼ I.e. in that place}there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom ^alfrom above is first ^ampure, then ^anpeaceable, ^aogentle, ^{▼▼ Or willing to yield}reasonable, ^aqfull of mercy and good fruits, ^arunwavering, without ^ashypocrisy. 18 And the ^{▼▼ Lit fruit of righteousness
,} ^auseed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace ^{▼▼ Or for}by those who make peace.