James 3
The Tongue Is a Fire
1 aDo not become teachers in large numbers, bmy brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a ▼▼Or greater condemnation; i.e., for erroneous doctrine
stricter judgment. 2For we all dstumble in many ways. eIf anyone does not stumble in ▼▼Lit word
what he says, he is a gperfect man, able to ▼▼Or hold in check
irein in the whole body as well. 3Now jif 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 kboasts of great things. lSee how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6And mthe tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among ▼▼Lit our parts
our body’s parts as that which odefiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our ▼▼Or existence, origin
life, and is set on fire by ▼▼Gr Gehenna
rhell. 7For 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. 8But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of udeadly poison. 9With it we bless vour Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, wwho 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 ▼▼Lit sweet
fresh and bitter water? 12 yCan a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce ▼▼Lit sweet
fresh. Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? aaLet him show by his abgood behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter acjealousy and ▼▼Or strife
selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against aethe truth. 15This wisdom is not that which comes down affrom above, but is agearthly, ▼▼Or unspiritual
ainatural, ajdemonic. 16For where akjealousy and ▼▼Or strife
selfish ambition exist, ▼▼I.e., in that place
there is disorder and every evil thing. 17But the wisdom anfrom above is first aopure, then appeace-loving, aqgentle, ▼▼Or willing to yield
reasonable, asfull of mercy and good fruits, ▼▼Or unwavering
auimpartial, free of avhypocrisy. 18And the awfruit of righteousness is sown in peace ▼▼Or for
by those who make peace.
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