James 3 GNV
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.
1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receiue the greater condemnation.
2For in many things we sinne all. If any man sinne not in word, he is a perfect man, and able to bridle all the body.
3Beholde, we put bittes into the horses mouthes, that they should obey vs, and we turne about all their bodie.
4Behold also the shippes, which though they be so great, and are driuen of fierce windes, yet are they turned about with a very small rudder, whither soeuer the gouernour listeth.
5Euen so the tongue is a litle member, and boasteth of great things: beholde, howe great a thing a litle fire kindleth.
6And the tongue is fire, yea, a worlde of wickednesse: so is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell.
7For the whole nature of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping things, and things of the sea is tamed, and hath bene tamed of the nature of man.
8But the tongue can no man tame. It is an vnruly euill, full of deadly poyson.
9Therewith blesse we God euen the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10Out of one mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing: my brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11Doeth a fountaine send forth at one place sweete water and bitter?
12Can ye figge tree, my brethren, bring forth oliues, either a vine figges? so can no fountaine make both salt water and sweete.
13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew by good conuersation his workes in meekenesse of wisdome.
14But if ye haue bitter enuying and strife in your hearts, reioyce not, neither be liars against the trueth.
15This wisedome descendeth not from aboue, but is earthly, sensuall, and deuilish.
16For where enuying and strife is, there is sedition, and all maner of euill workes.
17But the wisedome that is from aboue, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easie to be intreated, full of mercie and good fruites, without iudging, and without hipocrisie.
18And the fruite of righteousnesse is sowen in peace, of them that make peace.
Also read this chapter in: KJV, WEB, ASV, WYC, WBT, DBY, YLT