James 3

The Untamable Tongue

3My brethren, ^alet not many of you become teachers, ^bknowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ²For ^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. ³²Indeed, ^fwe put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴Look 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. ⁵Even so ^gthe tongue is a little member and ^hboasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶And 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. ⁷For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, ^kfull of deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made ^lin the ⁶similitude of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹²Can 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

¹³ⁿWho is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have ^obitter envy and ⁸self-seeking in your hearts, ^pdo not boast and lie against the truth. ^15qThis wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶For ^rwhere envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷But ^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. ^18vNow the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.