James 3 - New International Version (NIV)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(B) more strictly.(C) 2 We all stumble(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(E) is perfect,(F) able to keep their whole body in check.(G)

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(H) 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(I) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire,(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(K) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(L)

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(M)

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.(N) 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?(O) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(P) by their good life, by deeds(Q) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(R) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(S) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(T) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(U) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(V) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(W) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(X) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(Y) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(Z) 18 Peacemakers(AA) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(AB)

Cross references

  1. James 3:1 : S Eph 4:11
  2. James 3:1 : S Mt 7:1
  3. James 3:1 : Ro 2:21
  4. James 3:2 : 1Ki 8:46; Ro 3:9-20; Jas 2:10; 1Jn 1:8
  5. James 3:2 : Ps 39:1; Pr 10:19; 1Pe 3:10
  6. James 3:2 : S Mt 12:37
  7. James 3:2 : Jas 1:26
  8. James 3:3 : Ps 32:9
  9. James 3:5 : Ps 12:3, 4; 73:8, 9
  10. James 3:6 : Pr 16:27
  11. James 3:6 : Mt 15:11, 18, 19
  12. James 3:6 : S Mt 5:22
  13. James 3:8 : Ps 140:3; Ro 3:13
  14. James 3:9 : Ge 1:26, 27; 1Co 11:7
  15. James 3:12 : Mt 7:16
  16. James 3:13 : Jas 2:18
  17. James 3:13 : S 1Pe 2:12
  18. James 3:14 : ver 16; 2Co 12:20
  19. James 3:14 : Jas 5:19
  20. James 3:15 : ver 17; Jas 1:17
  21. James 3:15 : 1Ti 4:1
  22. James 3:16 : ver 14; Gal 5:20, 21
  23. James 3:17 : 1Co 2:6; Jas 1:17
  24. James 3:17 : Heb 12:11
  25. James 3:17 : Lk 6:36
  26. James 3:17 : Ro 12:9
  27. James 3:18 : Mt 5:9; S Ro 14:19
  28. James 3:18 : Pr 11:18; Isa 32:17; Hos 10:12; Php 1:11

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James 3 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

3 Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive, 2 for we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one [is] a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body; 3 lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying u...
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James 3 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

3 My brethren, do not ye be made many masters, witting that ye take the more doom. 2 For all we offend in many things. If any man offendeth not in word, this is a perfect man; for also he may lead about all the body with a bridle [forsooth he may with a bridle lead about all the body]. 3 For if we ...
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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)

3 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, an...
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James 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

3 My brothers and sisters, do not encourage a large number of you to become teachers because teachers will be held to a higher standard. 2 We all stumble along the way. If a person never speaks hurtful words or shouts in anger or profanity, then he has achieved perfection. The one who can control h...
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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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James 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

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)

Taming the Tongue3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters; you know that we will be judged more severely. 2 All of us make many mistakes, after all. If anyone makes no mistakes in what they say, such a person is a fully complete human being, capable of keeping firm control ...
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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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James 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Taming the Tongue3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will face stricter judgment.(A)2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is mature,[a] able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.(B)3 If we p...
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James 3 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

What good and evil comes through the tongue. The duty of the learned. The difference between the wisdom of the gospel and the wisdom of the world. 3 My brethren, be not every man a counsellor, remembering that we will receive the stricter judgment. 2 For in many things, we all sin.If a person does ...
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James 3 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Controlling the Tongue3 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way...
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James 3 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Power of the Tongue3 My Christian brothers, not many of you should become teachers. If we do wrong, it will be held against us more than other people who are not teachers. 2 We all make many mistakes. If anyone does not make a mistake with his tongue by saying the wrong things, he is a perfect ...
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James 3 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Untamable Tongue3 My brethren, (A)let not many of you become teachers, (B)knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For (C)we all stumble in many things. (D)If anyone does not stumble in word, (E)he is a [a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 [b]Indeed, (F)we put bits...
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