James 3
Taming the Tongue
1 aNot many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For bwe all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, che is a perfect man, dable also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put ebits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet fit boasts of great things.How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And gthe tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, hstaining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, ▼▼Or wheel of birth
and set on fire by hell. ▼▼Greek Gehenna
7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, kfull of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people lwho are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, ▼▼Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12
these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Wisdom from Above
13Who is wise and understanding among you? nBy his good conduct let him show his works oin the meekness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter pjealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15This is not qthe wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, rdemonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17But sthe wisdom from above is first pure, then tpeaceable, gentle, open to reason, ufull of mercy and good fruits, vimpartial and wsincere. 18And xa harvest of righteousness yis sown in peace by those who make peace.
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