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James 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
James 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Control Your Tongue And You Will Control Your Life
3 Do not become[a] many[b] teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a greater judgment. 2 For we all stumble many[c] ways. If one does not stumble in speech, this one is a perfect man able to bridle[d] also the whole body. 3 Now if we put bridles into the mouths of horses so-that they obey us, we also guide their whole body. 4 Behold also ships being so large and being driven by hard winds— they are guided by a very small rudder where the impulse of the one steering wants. 5 So also the tongue is a small body-part, and boastfully-declares great things. Behold how-small a fire kindles how-great a forest!
An Untamed Tongue Stains And Burns And Poisons Life
6 And the tongue is a fire! The[e] tongue is made[f] the world of [g] unrighteousness among our body-parts— the thing staining the whole body and setting-on-fire the course of our existence, and being set-on-fire by Gehenna[h]. 7 For every nature[i] of both wild-animals and birds, of both reptiles and sea-creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human nature. 8 But none of mankind is able to tame the tongue— a restless evil, full of death-bringing poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse the people having been made in accordance with the likeness of God; 10 a blessing and a curse come out of the same mouth.
Such Destruction Ought Not To Proceed From Us
My brothers, these things ought[j] not to be so. 11 The spring does not gush out of the same opening the sweet and the bitter, does it? 12 A fig tree is not able, my brothers, to make olives, or a grapevine figs, is it? Neither is salty water able to make sweet water.
Your Speech And Conduct And The Fruit They Produce Reveal The Source of Your Wisdom
13 Who[k] is wise and knowledgeable among you? Let him show from his good conduct his works done in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish-interest[l] in your heart, do not be vaunting[m] and lying against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not coming down[n] from-above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish-interest are, in-that-place there is disorder[o] and every bad thing[p]. 17 But the wisdom from-above is first pure, then peaceful, kind, yielding[q], full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, sincere. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by the ones making peace.
Footnotes
- James 3:1 Or, be.
- James 3:1 That is, a multitude of teachers. Or, Do not many of you become teachers.
- James 3:2 Or, many times, greatly.
- James 3:2 Or, restrain, control, hold in check.
- James 3:6 Or, fire, the world of unrighteousness! The tongue is set among our body-parts as the thing.
- James 3:6 Or, is set, is constituted. Or, makes-itself, renders-itself.
- James 3:6 Or, characterized by, belonging to, used by, ruled by.
- James 3:6 Or, Hell.
- James 3:7 That is, natural disposition. Or, species, both times in this verse.
- James 3:10 Or, must not. It is true for mankind in general, but not for doers of the word (1:26). A tree is known by its fruit.
- James 3:13 Do you claim to have wisdom and knowledge? What does your fruit say about you?
- James 3:14 Or, selfish-ambition, party-spirit.
- James 3:14 That is, in claiming to be wise.
- James 3:15 The source of the wisdom in your heart will be known by the actions it produces in you and in your listeners.
- James 3:16 Or, instability, confusion, disturbance.
- James 3:16 Or, evil matter, deed, work.
- James 3:17 Or, compliant, ready to obey, reasonable.
James 3
New International Version
James 3
New International Version
Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers,(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(B) more strictly.(C) 2 We all stumble(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(E) is perfect,(F) able to keep their whole body in check.(G)
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(H) 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(I) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire,(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(K) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(L)
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(M)
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.(N) 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?(O) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(P) by their good life, by deeds(Q) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(R) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(S) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(T) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(U) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(V) there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(W) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(X) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(Y) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(Z) 18 Peacemakers(AA) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(AB)
Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) 
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.