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
Controlling the Tongue
1Not many should become teachers, my brothers,#3:1 Or brothers and sisters because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.#Mt 23:8; Rm 2:20–21; 1Tm 1:7 2For we all stumble in many ways.#1Kg 8:46; Pr 20:9; Jms 2:10 If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.#Mt 12:37; Jms 1:26; 1Pt 3:10 3Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us,#Ps 32:9; 39:1 we direct their whole bodies. 4And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things.#Ps 12:3–4; 73:8–9 Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. 6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed#3:6 Or places itself, or appoints itself among our members. It stains the whole body,#Ps 120:2–3; Pr 16:27; Mt 15:11,18 sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.#Ps 140:3; Ec 10:11; Rm 3:13 9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.#Gn 1:26; 1Co 11:7 10Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
The Wisdom from Above
13Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.#Jms 1:21; 2:18 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth.#Rm 2:8; 13:13; 2Co 12:20 15Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.#2Th 2:9; 1Tm 4:1; Jms 1:17; Rv 2:24 16For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.#Lk 6:36; Rm 12:9; 1Co 2:6; Heb 12:11; Jms 2:4 18And the fruit of righteousness#Pr 11:18; Is 32:17; Hs 10:12; Am 6:12; Gl 6:8; Php 1:11 is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
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