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
Taming the Tongue
1 #
Matt. 23:8; [Rom. 2:20, 21; 1 Tim. 1:7] Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For #1 Kgs. 8:46; Prov. 20:9; Eccles. 7:20; 1 John 1:8 we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, #[Matt. 12:37] he is a perfect man, #See ch. 1:26able also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put #Ps. 32:9bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet #[Ps. 12:3, 4; 73:8, 9]it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And #Ps. 120:2-4; Prov. 16:27 the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, #Matt. 15:18staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,#3:6 Or wheel of birth and set on fire by hell.#3:6 Greek Gehenna 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, #Ps. 140:3; Eccles. 10:11; Rom. 3:13full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people #See Gen. 1:26who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,#3:10 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Wisdom from Above
13Who is wise and understanding among you? #ch. 2:18 By his good conduct let him show his works #ch. 1:21in the meekness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter #ver. 16; Acts 5:17; Rom. 2:8; 2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20; Phil. 1:17; 2:3; [Rom. 13:13]jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15This is not #ch. 1:17 the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, #[1 Kgs. 22:22; 2 Thess. 2:9, 10; 1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:24]demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17But #[1 Cor. 2:6, 7] the wisdom from above is first pure, then #Heb. 12:11 peaceable, gentle, open to reason, #[Luke 6:36] full of mercy and good fruits, #ch. 2:4 (Gk.) impartial and #Rom. 12:9sincere. 18And #Prov. 11:18; Isa. 32:17; Hos. 10:12; Amos 6:12; Phil. 1:11 a harvest of righteousness #Matt. 5:9; Gal. 6:7, 8is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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