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, and we guide their whole body. 4 Behold,[a] the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.[b] 7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind; 8 but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God. 10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Footnotes

  1. 3:4 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
  2. 3:6 or, Hell

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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 - The Voice (VOICE)

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James 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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James 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

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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 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)

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