James 3 Parallel Bible Translations

James 3 ▼
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1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 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 For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. 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 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 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 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 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 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! 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 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. 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 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind; 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 but nobody 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. but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God. 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 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 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 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 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 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and 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 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of 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 have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. 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 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, 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 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 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 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 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 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 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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