James 3:1–4:17

The Untamable Tongue

3 My brethren, alet not many of you become teachers, bknowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For cwe all stumble in many things. dIf anyone does not stumble in word, ehe is a 1perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 2Indeed, fwe put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so gthe tongue is a little member and hboasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And ithe tongue is a fire, a world of 3iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it jdefiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of 4nature; and it is set on fire by 5hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, kfull of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made lin the 6similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a mfig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? 7Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

13 nWho is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have obitter envy and 8self-seeking in your hearts, pdo not boast and lie against the truth. 15 qThis wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For rwhere envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But sthe wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, twithout partiality uand without hypocrisy. 18 vNow the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Pride Promotes Strife

4 Where do 1wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure athat war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and 2war. 3Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 bYou ask and do not receive, cbecause you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that dfriendship with the world is enmity with God? eWhoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, f“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

g“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

Humility Cures Worldliness

7 Therefore submit to God. hResist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 iDraw near to God and He will draw near to you. jCleanse your hands, you sinners; and kpurify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 lLament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 mHumble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Do Not Judge a Brother

11 nDo not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother oand judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one 5Lawgiver, pwho is able to save and to destroy. qWho 6are you to judge 7another?

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow 8we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? rIt is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, s“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. tAll such boasting is evil.

17 Therefore, uto him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.