James 3, side by side

¹Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

¹My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

²We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

²For 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.

³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

³Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

⁴Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

⁴Behold 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.

⁵In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

⁵Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

⁶The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁶And 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.

⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

⁷For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

⁸but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁸But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

¹¹Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

¹²My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

¹²Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

¹³Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.

¹⁴But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

¹⁵Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

¹⁵This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

¹⁶For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁶For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

¹⁷But 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.

¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

¹⁸And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.