Jacob (James) 3
3
Dangerous Tongue
1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, since you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.
2For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
3And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well.
4See also the ships—though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5So also the tongue is a small member—yet it boasts of great things. See how so small a fire sets a blaze so great a forest!
6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of evil placed among our body parts. It pollutes the whole body and sets on fire the course of life—and is set on fire by Gehenna.
7For every species of beasts and birds, reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With it we bless our Adonai and Father, and with it we curse people, who are made in the image of God.
10From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be.
11A spring doesn’t pour out fresh and bitter water from the same opening, does it?
12My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh water.
Gentle Wisdom from Above
13Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct let him show his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical.
18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in shalom by those who make shalom.
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Jacob (James) 3: TLV
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
James 3
3
Controlling the Tongue
1Dear brothers and sisters,#3:1 Greek brothers; also in 3:10. not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
3We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.#3:6 Or for it will burn in hell (Greek Gehenna).
7People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.#3:12 Greek from salt.
True Wisdom Comes from God
13If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.#3:18 Or of good things, or of justice.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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