James 3 - English Standard Version (ESV)

Taming the Tongue

3 (A)Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For (B)we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, (C)he is a perfect man, (D)able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put (E)bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look 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. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet (F)it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And (G)the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, (H)staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell.[b] 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, (I)full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people (J)who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[c] these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Wisdom from Above

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? (K)By his good conduct let him show his works (L)in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (M)jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not (N)the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, (O)demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But (P)the wisdom from above is first pure, then (Q)peaceable, gentle, open to reason, (R)full of mercy and good fruits, (S)impartial and (T)sincere. 18 And (U)a harvest of righteousness (V)is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Footnotes

  1. James 3:6 Or wheel of birth
  2. James 3:6 Greek Gehenna
  3. James 3:10 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12

Cross references

  1. James 3:1 : Matt. 23:8; [Rom. 2:20, 21; 1 Tim. 1:7]
  2. James 3:2 : 1 Kgs. 8:46; Prov. 20:9; Eccles. 7:20; 1 John 1:8
  3. James 3:2 : [Matt. 12:37]
  4. James 3:2 : See ch. 1:26
  5. James 3:3 : Ps. 32:9
  6. James 3:5 : [Ps. 12:3, 4; 73:8, 9]
  7. James 3:6 : Ps. 120:2-4; Prov. 16:27
  8. James 3:6 : Matt. 15:18
  9. James 3:8 : Ps. 140:3; Eccles. 10:11; Rom. 3:13
  10. James 3:9 : See Gen. 1:26
  11. James 3:13 : ch. 2:18
  12. James 3:13 : ch. 1:21
  13. James 3:14 : ver. 16; Acts 5:17; Rom. 2:8; 2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20; Phil. 1:17; 2:3; [Rom. 13:13]
  14. James 3:15 : ch. 1:17
  15. James 3:15 : [1 Kgs. 22:22; 2 Thess. 2:9, 10; 1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:24]
  16. James 3:17 : [1 Cor. 2:6, 7]
  17. James 3:17 : Heb. 12:11
  18. James 3:17 : [Luke 6:36]
  19. James 3:17 : ch. 2:4 (Gk.)
  20. James 3:17 : Rom. 12:9
  21. James 3:18 : Prov. 11:18; Isa. 32:17; Hos. 10:12; Amos 6:12; Phil. 1:11
  22. James 3:18 : Matt. 5:9; Gal. 6:7, 8

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James 3 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

3 My brothers, not many of you should be teachers. You know that we who teach will be punished more than other people. 2 We all do many wrong things. Any man who never says anything wrong is right in every way. He is able to make his whole body do what is right. 3 We put a piece of iron in the mouth...
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James 3 - World English Bible (WEB)

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James 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

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James 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Dangerous Tongue3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, since you know that we will receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 And if we put bits int...
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Taming the Tongue3 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 If we put bits i...
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James 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Taming the Tongue3 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 If we put bits i...
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James 3 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

3 My brothers, do not let many of you become instructors, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we all sin. If anyone does not sin in word, he is a perfect man and able to bridle his whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will ob...
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James 3 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

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James 3 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Taming the Tongue3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,[a] for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. ...
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James 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Taming the Tongue3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,[a] for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. ...
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