James 3 Parallel Bible Translations

James 3 ▼
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1 Brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers. You know that we who teach will be judged more severely. Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2 All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn't make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 We put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and we have control over everything they do. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4 The same thing is true for ships. They are very big and are driven by strong winds. Yet, by using small rudders, pilots steer ships wherever they want them to go. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 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 In the same way the tongue is a small part of the body, but it can brag about doing important things. A large forest can be set on fire by a little flame. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
6 The tongue is that kind of flame. It is a world of evil among the parts of our bodies, and it completely contaminates our bodies. The tongue sets our lives on fire, and is itself set on fire from hell. And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 People have tamed all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
8 Yet, no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. Yet, with the same tongues we curse people, who were created in God's likeness. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.
10 Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen! From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
11 Do clean and polluted water flow out of the same spring? Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? In the same way, a pool of salt water can't produce fresh water. Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don't brag. Don't say that you are wise when it isn't true. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15 That kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
18 A harvest that has God's approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
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