James 3–4

Controlling the Tongue

3Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment, ^k2for we all stumble in many ways. ^lIf anyone does not stumble in what he says, ^mhe is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body. ^no

³Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, ^pwe also guide the whole animal. ^q4And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. ^rConsider how large a forest a small fire ignites. ⁶And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, ^ssets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.

⁷Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, ⁸but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ^t9We praise our ^uLord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it. ^v10Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way. ¹¹Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? ¹²Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

¹³Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. ^w14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. ^x15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ^y16For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. ¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. ^z18And the fruit of righteousness ^ais sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Proud or Humble

4What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings ^bthat are at war within you? ^c2You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. ³You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires. ^d

⁴Adulteresses! ^efDon’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. ^g5Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously? ^hi

⁶But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says:

God resists the proud,

but gives grace to the humble. ^jk

⁷Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. ^l8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! ^m9Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. ⁿ¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

¹¹Don’t criticize one another, brothers. He who criticizes a brother or judges his brother criticizes the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ^o12There is one lawgiver and judge ^pwho is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? ^q

Our Will and His Will

¹³Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” ^r14You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes. ^s

¹⁵Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. ^t17So it is a sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn’t do it. ^u