James 3

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly,	1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also.	2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.	3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot's inclination wishes.	4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze.	5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna.	6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue 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.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,	7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.	8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God.	9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers.	10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water?	11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.	12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.	13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.	14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.	15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.	16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.	17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.	18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.