The General Epistle of James

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

(Psalm 64:1–10)

Do not let many be teachers, my brothers, having known that we will receive greater judgment,

for we all make many stumbles; if anyone does not stumble in word, this one [is] a perfect man, able to also bridle the whole body;

behold, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and we direct their whole body;

behold, also the ships, being so great, and being driven by fierce winds, are directed by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the [one] steering wills,

so also the tongue is a little member, and boasts greatly; behold, how much forest a little fire kindles!

And the tongue [is] a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.

For every nature, both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and has been subdued, by the human nature,

but no one of men is able to subdue the tongue—[it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison;

with it we bless the God and Father, and with it we curse the men made according to [the] likeness of God;

out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing; it does not need, my brothers, these things to so happen;

does the fountain out of the same opening pour forth the sweet and the bitter?

Is a fig tree able, my brothers, to make olives? Or a vine figs? Neither is salty [water able] to have made sweet water.

The Wisdom from Above

Who [is] wise and intelligent among you? Let him show his works out of good behavior in meekness of wisdom,

yet, if you have bitter zeal, and rivalry in your heart, do not glory, nor lie against the truth;

this wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,

for where zeal and rivalry [are], there is insurrection and every evil matter;

but the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, well-convinced, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical—

and the fruit of righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.

(Psalm 64:1–10)

Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.

Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

Behold,(a) the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.

So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.(b)

For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;

but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.

Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?

Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Footnotes

(a)3:4 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

(b)3:6 or, Hell