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James 3:1–2

The Tongue Is a Fire

1 aLet not many of you become teachers, bmy brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a 1stricter judgment.

2 For we all astumble in many ways. bIf anyone does not stumble in 1what he says, he is a cperfect man, able to dbridle the whole body as well.

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James 3:1–2 — The New International Version (NIV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

James 3:1–2 — English Standard Version (ESV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

James 3:1–2 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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

James 3:1–2 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

James 3:1–2 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

James 3:1–2 — New Century Version (NCV)

My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too.

James 3:1–2 — American Standard Version (ASV)

Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment. For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

James 3:1–2 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment. For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.

James 3:1–2 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers. You know that we who teach will be judged more severely. 

All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does.

James 3:1–2 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment, for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.

James 3:1–2 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.

James 3:1–2 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a greater judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to hold in check his whole body also.

James 3:1–2 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

My brothers and sisters, most of you shouldn’t want to be teachers. You know that those of us who teach will be held more accountable.

All of us get tripped up in many ways. Suppose someone is never wrong in what he says. Then he is a perfect man. He is able to keep his whole body under control.


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