James 3

1Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.

1Do not all be teachers, my brothers, because we teachers will be judged more hardly than others.

1Be ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment.

2For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, he [is] a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.

2For we all go wrong in a number of things. If a man never makes a slip in his talk, then he is a complete man and able to keep all his body in control.

2For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body.

3Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.

3Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies.

3For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us: and we turn about their whole body.

4Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will.

4And again ships, though they are so great and are moved by violent winds, are turned by a very small guiding-blade, at the impulse of the man who is using it.

4Behold also ships, whereas they are great and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the governor willeth.

5Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!

5Even so the tongue is a small part of the body, but it takes credit for great things. How much wood may be lighted by a very little fire!

5Even so the tongue is indeed a little member and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.

6and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.

6And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell.

6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell.

7For every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of sea animals, is tamed and has been tamed by the human species;

7For every sort of beast and bird and every living thing on earth and in the sea has been controlled by man and is under his authority;

7For every nature of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of the rest is tamed and hath been tamed, by the nature of man.

8but the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.

8But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death.

8But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.

9Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness ofGod.

9With it we give praise to our Lord and Father; and with it we put a curse on men who are made in God's image.

9By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men who are made after the likeness of God.

10Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.

10Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for these things to be so.

10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?

11Does the fountain send from the same outlet sweet and bitter water?

11Doth a fountain send forth, out of the same hole, sweet and bitter water?

12Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt [water] make sweet water.

12Is a fig-tree able to give us olives, my brothers, or do we get figs from a vine, or sweet water from the salt sea?

12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear grapes? Or the vine, figs? So neither can the salt water yield sweet.

13Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;

13Who has wisdom and good sense among you? let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom.

13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge, among you? Let him shew, by a good contestation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.

14but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

14But if you have bitter envy in your heart and the desire to get the better of others, have no pride in this, talking falsely against what is true.

14But if you have bitter zeal, and there be contention in your hearts: glory not and be not liars against the truth.

15This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.

15This wisdom is not from heaven, but is of the earth and the flesh and the Evil One.

15For this is not wisdom, descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish.

16For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.

16For where envy is, and the desire to get the better of others, there is no order, but every sort of evil-doing.

16For where envying and contention is: there is inconstancy and every evil work.

17But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.

17But the wisdom which is from heaven is first holy, then gentle, readily giving way in argument, full of peace and mercy and good works, not doubting, not seeming other than it is.

17But the wisdom that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation.

18But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.

18And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace for those who make peace.

18And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace.