James 3
3
Restraining the Tongue
1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a greater judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man, able also to bridle* his whole body.
3 Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we turn their whole body as well. 4 Look also at ships: Although they are so large and are propelled by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot* wills. 5 Likewise, the tongue is but a small member, yet it boasts of great things. See how vast a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body and setting on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 For every species of animals and birds, of quadrupeds and sea creatures, is being tamed and has been tamed by the human race,* 8 but no one among mankind is able to tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless the Lord* and Father, and with it we curse men,* who have been made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 A spring does not pour forth fresh and bitter water from the same opening. 12 A fig tree, my brothers, cannot bear olives, or a grapevine produce* figs. Neither can salt water produce fresh water.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the humility of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and self-centred ambition in your hearts, do not boast and speak falsely against the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where there is jealousy and self-centred ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, open to persuasion, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, without hypocrisy, 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Notes
2 Or control
4 Greek the one who steers
7 Greek the race of the human
9 Some ancient manuscripts replace Lord with God
9 Or people , as the term is generically understood
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James 3: AFINTLIT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
