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James 3 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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The Tongue Is a Fire

3 (A)Do not become teachers in large numbers, (B)my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a [a]stricter judgment. 2 For we all (C)stumble in many ways. (D)If anyone does not stumble in [b]what he says, he is a (E)perfect man, able to [c](F)rein in the whole body as well. 3 Now (G)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well. 4 Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it (H)boasts of great things.

(I)See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And (J)the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among [d]our body’s parts as that which (K)defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our [e]life, and is set on fire by [f](L)hell. 7 For every [g]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human [h]race. 8 But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of (M)deadly poison. 9 With it we bless (N)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, (O)who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both [i]fresh and bitter water? 12 (P)Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce [j]fresh.

Wisdom from Above

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (Q)Let him show by his (R)good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (S)jealousy and [k]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against (T)the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down (U)from above, but is (V)earthly, [l](W)natural, (X)demonic. 16 For where (Y)jealousy and [m]selfish ambition exist, [n]there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom (Z)from above is first (AA)pure, then (AB)peace-loving, (AC)gentle, [o]reasonable, (AD)full of mercy and good fruits, [p](AE)impartial, free of (AF)hypocrisy. 18 And the (AG)fruit of righteousness is sown in peace [q]by those who make peace.

Footnotes

  1. James 3:1 Or greater condemnation; i.e., for erroneous doctrine
  2. James 3:2 Lit word
  3. James 3:2 Or hold in check
  4. James 3:6 Lit our parts
  5. James 3:6 Or existence, origin
  6. James 3:6 Gr Gehenna
  7. James 3:7 Lit nature
  8. James 3:7 Lit nature
  9. James 3:11 Lit sweet
  10. James 3:12 Lit sweet
  11. James 3:14 Or strife
  12. James 3:15 Or unspiritual
  13. James 3:16 Or strife
  14. James 3:16 I.e., in that place
  15. James 3:17 Or willing to yield
  16. James 3:17 Or unwavering
  17. James 3:18 Or for

Cross references

  1. James 3:1 : Matt 23:8; Rom 2:20f; 1 Tim 1:7
  2. James 3:1 : James 1:16; 3:10
  3. James 3:2 : James 2:10
  4. James 3:2 : Matt 12:34-37; James 3:2-12
  5. James 3:2 : James 1:4
  6. James 3:2 : James 1:26
  7. James 3:3 : Ps 32:9
  8. James 3:5 : Ps 12:3f; 73:8f
  9. James 3:5 : Prov 26:20f
  10. James 3:6 : Ps 120:2, 3; Prov 16:27
  11. James 3:6 : Matt 12:36f; 15:11, 18f
  12. James 3:6 : Matt 5:22
  13. James 3:8 : Ps 140:3; Eccl 10:11; Rom 3:13
  14. James 3:9 : James 1:27
  15. James 3:9 : Gen 1:26; 1 Cor 11:7
  16. James 3:12 : Matt 7:16
  17. James 3:13 : James 2:18
  18. James 3:13 : 1 Pet 2:12
  19. James 3:14 : Rom 2:8; 2 Cor 12:20; James 3:16
  20. James 3:14 : 1 Tim 2:4; James 1:18; 5:19
  21. James 3:15 : James 1:17
  22. James 3:15 : 1 Cor 2:6; 3:19
  23. James 3:15 : 2 Cor 1:12; Jude 19
  24. James 3:15 : 2 Thess 2:9f; 1 Tim 4:1; Rev 2:24
  25. James 3:16 : Rom 2:8; 2 Cor 12:20; James 3:14
  26. James 3:17 : James 1:17
  27. James 3:17 : 2 Cor 7:11; James 4:8
  28. James 3:17 : Matt 5:9; Heb 12:11
  29. James 3:17 : Titus 3:2
  30. James 3:17 : Luke 6:36; James 2:13
  31. James 3:17 : James 2:4
  32. James 3:17 : Rom 12:9; 2 Cor 6:6
  33. James 3:18 : Prov 11:18; Is 32:17; Hos 10:12; Amos 6:12; Gal 6:8; Phil 1:11

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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)

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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 King James Version (NKJV)

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