James 3

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly,	1 My brothers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment.
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 we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.	3 For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around.
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 Consider also the ships, which, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will.
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 So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest.
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 so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from 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 the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature.
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.	8 But no man is able to rule over the tongue, a restless 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 By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God.
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers.	10 From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!
11 Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water?	11 Does a fountain emit, out of the same opening, both sweet and bitter water?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.	12 My brothers, can the fig tree yield grapes? Or the vine, figs? Then neither is salt water able to produce fresh water.
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 wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the 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 you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth.
15 Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.	15 For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.	16 For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved 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 within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.	18 And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace.