| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. | 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others. |
| 2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. | 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. |
| 3Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. | 3Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 5Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! | 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. |
| 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. | 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. |
| 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. | 7For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, |
| 8But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. | 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. |
| 9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. | 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God's likeness. |
| 10Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. | 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers! |
| 11Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? | 11A spring cannot pour both fresh and brackish water from the same opening, can it? |
| 12Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. | 12My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. |
| 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. | 13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely. |
| 14But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. | 14But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. |
| 15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. | 15That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. |
| 16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. | 16For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. |
| 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. | 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. |
| 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. | 18And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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