James 3
3
The Tongue
1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9#Gen 1.26. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
The Wisdom from Above
13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
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James 3: KJVAE
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.
James 3
3
The Untamable Tongue
1My brethren, #(Matt. 23:8); Rom. 2:21; 1 Tim. 1:7let not many of you become teachers, #Luke 6:37knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2For #1 Kin. 8:46we all stumble in many things. #Ps. 34:13If anyone does not stumble in word, #(Matt. 12:34–37; James 3:2–12)he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3Indeed, #Ps. 32:9we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5Even so #Prov. 12:18; 15:2; James 1:26the tongue is a little member and #Ps. 12:3; 73:8boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6And #Ps. 120:2, 3; Prov. 16:27the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it #(Matt. 12:36; 15:11, 18)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, #Ps. 140:3; Eccl. 10:11; Rom. 3:13full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made #Gen. 1:26; 5:1; 9:6; 1 Cor. 11:7in the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12Can a #Matt. 7:16–20fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
13#Gal. 6:4Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14But if you have #Rom. 13:13bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, #Rom. 2:17do not boast and lie against the truth. 15#Phil. 3:19This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16For #1 Cor. 3:3where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17But #1 Cor. 2:6, 7the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, #James 2:1without partiality #Rom. 12:9; 2 Cor. 6:6; 1 Pet. 1:22and without hypocrisy. 18#Prov. 11:18; Is. 32:17; Hos. 10:12; Amos 6:12; (Gal. 6:8; Phil. 1:11)Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.