| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others. | 1Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. |
| 2For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body. | 2For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. |
| 3Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well. | 3Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. |
| 4And look at ships! They are so big that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the helmsman directs. | 4Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. |
| 5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it can boast of great achievements. A huge forest can be set on fire by a little flame. | 5So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! |
| 6The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. | 6And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. |
| 7For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, | 7For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. |
| 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. | 8But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. |
| 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God's likeness. | 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; |
| 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers! | 10from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. |
| 11A spring cannot pour both fresh and brackish water from the same opening, can it? | 11Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? |
| 12My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. | 12Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. |
| 13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely. | 13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. |
| 14But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. | 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. |
| 15That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. | 15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. |
| 16For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. | 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. |
| 17However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. | 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. |
| 18And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers. | 18And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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