James 3 DBY
Summary: James warns that not many should become teachers, since teachers are judged with greater strictness, and turns to an extended treatment of the tongue, comparing it to a small bit that steers a horse, a small rudder that steers a ship, and a small fire that sets a forest ablaze. He laments that the tongue, though it can bless the Lord, also curses people made in God's likeness, and that no human can fully tame it, concluding fresh water and salt water cannot flow from the same spring. The chapter closes by contrasting earthly, unspiritual, demonic "wisdom" marked by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition with the wisdom from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, and produces a harvest of righteousness sown in peace.
1Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.
2For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, he [is] a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.
3Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.
4Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will.
5Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!
6and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.
7For every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of sea animals, is tamed and has been tamed by the human species;
8but the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.
9Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness ofGod.
10Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.
11Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?
12Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt [water] make sweet water.
13Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;
14but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.
16For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.
17But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.
18But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.
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