James 3 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

The Tongue Is a Fire

1 Do not become ^G1096 teachers ^G1320 in large ^G4183 numbers ^G4183, my brothers ^G80, since you know ^G6063 that we who are teachers will incur ^G2983 a [fn]stricter ^G3173 judgment ^G2917.

2 For we all ^G537 stumble ^G4417 in many ^G4183 ways. If ^G1487 anyone ^G5100 does not stumble ^G4417 in [fn]what ^G3056 he says ^G3056, he is a perfect ^G5046 man ^G435, able ^G1415 to [fn]rein ^G5468 in ^G5468 the whole ^G3650 body ^G4983 as ^G2532 well ^G2532. 3 Now ^G1161 if ^G1487 we put ^G906 the bits ^G5469 into the horses’ ^G2462 mouths ^G4750 so ^G1519 that ^G1519 they will obey ^G3982 us, we direct ^G3329 their whole ^G3650 body ^G4983 as ^G2532 well ^G2532. 4 Look ^G2400 at the ships ^G4143 too ^G2532: though they are so ^G5082 large ^G5082 and are driven ^G1643 by strong ^G4642 winds ^G417, they are nevertheless directed ^G3329 by a very ^G1646 small ^G1646 rudder ^G4079 wherever ^G3699 the inclination ^G3730 of the pilot ^G2116 determines ^G1014. 5 So ^G3779 also ^G2532 the tongue ^G1100 is a small ^G3398 part ^G3196 of the body, and yet it boasts ^G3166 of great ^G3173 things ^G3173.

See ^G2400 how ^G2245 great ^G2245 a forest ^G5208 is set ^G381 aflame ^G381 by such ^G2245 a ^G2245 small ^G2245 fire ^G4442! 6 And the tongue ^G1100 is a fire ^G4442, the very world ^G2889 of unrighteousness ^G93; the tongue ^G1100 is set ^G2525 among ^G1722 [fn]our body’s parts ^G3196 as that which defiles ^G4695 the whole ^G3650 body ^G4983 and sets ^G5394 on ^G5394 fire ^G5394 the course ^G5164 of our [fn]life ^G1078, and is set ^G5394 on ^G5394 fire ^G5394 by [fn]hell ^G1067. 7 For every ^G3956 [fn]species ^G5449 of beasts ^G2342 and birds ^G4071, of reptiles ^G2062 and creatures ^G1724 of ^G1724 the ^G1724 sea ^G1724, is tamed ^G1150 and has been tamed ^G1150 by the human ^G442 [fn]race ^G5449. 8 But no ^G3762 one ^G3762 among mankind ^G444 can ^G1410 tame ^G1150 the tongue ^G1100; it is a restless ^G182 evil ^G2556, full ^G3324 of deadly ^G2287 poison ^G2447. 9 With it we bless ^G2127 our Lord ^G2962 and Father ^G3962, and with it we curse ^G2672 people ^G444, who have been ^G1096 made ^G1096 in the likeness ^G3669 of God ^G2316; 10 from the same ^G846 mouth ^G4750 come ^G1831 both blessing ^G2129 and cursing ^G2671. My brothers ^G80 and sisters, these ^G3778 things ^G3778 should ^G5534 not be this ^G3779 way ^G3779. 11 Does a spring ^G4077 send ^G1032 out ^G1032 from the same ^G846 opening ^G3692 both [fn]fresh ^G1099 and bitter ^G4089 water? 12 Can ^G1410 a fig ^G4808 tree ^G4808, my brothers ^G80 and sisters, bear ^G4160 olives ^G1636, or ^G2228 a vine ^G288 bear figs ^G4810? Nor ^G3777 can salt ^G252 water ^G5204 produce ^G4160 [fn]fresh ^G1099.

Wisdom from Above

13 Who ^G5101 among ^G1722 you is wise ^G4680 and understanding ^G1990? Let him show ^G1166 by his good ^G2570 behavior ^G391 his deeds ^G2041 in the gentleness ^G4240 of wisdom ^G4678.

14 But if ^G1487 you have ^G2192 bitter ^G4089 jealousy ^G2205 and [fn]selfish ^G2052 ambition ^G2052 in your heart ^G2588, do not be arrogant ^G2620 and so lie ^G5574 against ^G2596 the truth ^G225. 15 This ^G3778 wisdom ^G4678 is not that which comes ^G2718 down ^G2718 from above ^G509, but is earthly ^G1919, [fn]natural ^G5591, demonic ^G1141. 16 For where ^G3699 jealousy ^G2205 and [fn]selfish ^G2052 ambition ^G2052 exist, [fn]there ^G1563 is disorder ^G181 and every ^G3956 evil ^G5337 thing ^G4229. 17 But the wisdom ^G4678 from above ^G509 is first ^G4413 pure ^G53, then ^G1899 peace-loving ^G1516, gentle ^G1933, [fn]reasonable ^G2138, full ^G3324 of mercy ^G1656 and good ^G18 fruits ^G2590, [fn]impartial ^G87, free ^G505 of ^G505 hypocrisy ^G505. 18 And the fruit ^G2590 of righteousness ^G1343 is sown ^G4687 in peace ^G1515 [fn]by those ^G3588 who make ^G4160 peace ^G1515.