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 (Jacob) 3
3
The Power of Your Words
1My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be so eager to become a teacher in the church since you know that we who teach are held to a higher standard of judgment. 2We all fail in many areas, but especially with our words. Yet if we’re able to bridle the words we say we are powerful enough to control ourselves in every way, and that means our character is mature and fully developed. 3Horses have bits and bridles in their mouths so that we can control and guide their large body. 4And the same with mighty ships, though they are massive and driven by fierce winds, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder at the direction of the person at the helm.
5And so the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power! # 3:5 Or “boasts of great things.” The Aramaic can be translated “the tongue has dominion.” Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze. 6And the tongue is a fire! It can be compared to the sum total of wickedness # 3:6 As translated from the Latin Vulgate. The Greek is “a world of wrongdoing.” and is the most dangerous part of our human body. It corrupts the entire body # 3:6 It is possible that the body Jacob refers to here is the body of believers (a local church). and is a hellish flame! # 3:6 Or “is set ablaze by gehenna [hell].” The Aramaic does not mention gehenna but is simply “burns with fire.” Gehenna is taken from the concept of “The Valley of Hinnom” where rubbish was burned outside the city of Jerusalem, becoming a Hebrew metaphor for the fires of hell. It releases a fire that can burn throughout the course of human existence. # 3:6 The Aramaic can be translated “a fire that passes through successive generations, rolling on like wheels.”
7For every wild animal on earth including birds, creeping reptiles, and creatures of the sea and land # 3:7 Implied in the Greek and made explicit in the Aramaic. have all been overpowered and tamed by humans, 8but the tongue is not able to be tamed. It’s a fickle, unrestrained evil that spews out words full of toxic poison! 9We use our tongue to praise God our Father # 3:9 Some Greek manuscripts have “Lord and Father.” The Aramaic can be translated “Lord God” (MarYah, the Aramaic equivalent to Yahweh). and then turn around and curse a person who was made in his very image! # 3:9 The Aramaic can be translated “we curse a person and pretend to be God!” 10Out of the same mouth we pour out words of praise one minute and curses the next. My brothers and sisters, this should never be!
11-12Would you look for olives hanging on a fig tree or go to pick figs from a grapevine? Is it possible that fresh and bitter water can flow out of the same spring? So neither can a bitter spring produce fresh water. # 3:11–12 As translated from the Aramaic.
Wisdom from Above
13If you consider yourself to be wise and one who understands the ways of God, advertise it with a beautiful, fruitful # 3:13 As translated from the Aramaic. life guided by wisdom’s gentleness. Never brag or boast about what you’ve done and you’ll prove that you’re truly wise. 14But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony. 15For that has nothing to do with God’s heavenly wisdom but can best be described as the wisdom of this world, both selfish # 3:15 Or “unspiritual.” and devilish. # 3:15 Or “behaves like a demon.” 16So wherever jealousy # 3:16 The Greek word for jealousy implies an obsession to promote one’s self at the expense of others. and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles # 3:16 The Aramaic can be translated “chaos.” The Greek can be translated “instability” or “disorder.” and every kind of meanness.
17But the wisdom from above is always pure, # 3:17 Or “holy.” filled with peace, considerate and teachable. # 3:17 A beautiful concept that means “easy to correct” or “ready to be convinced” or “willing to yield to others.” Is this true of your life? It is filled with love # 3:17 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “mercy.” and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy # 3:17 Or “never wears a mask.” in any form 18and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace.
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