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
The Tongue
1My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. 2#Si 5.9-15; 14.1; 28.13-26. All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body.
3By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. 4It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. 5Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.
It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! 6#Si 5.13; 28.21,22. The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person's entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. 8But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.
9-10 #
Gn 1.26. My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn't right. 11Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring? 12Can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? Does fresh water come from a well full of salt water?
Wisdom from Above
13 #
Si 19.20-30. Are any of you wise or sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do. 14But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and selfishness, don't brag or lie to cover up the truth. 15This kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It is earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself. 16Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things. 17But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. 18When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.