James 3:4-16
New American Standard Bible
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!
6And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
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 among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God;
10from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.
11Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?
12Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
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 selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
King James Version
Chapter 3
4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 3
4And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. 6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God's likeness. 10Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
13Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.
14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and deny the truth.
15Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.
New Living Translation
5In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.
6And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
7People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,
8but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
9Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.
10And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
11Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?
12Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
13If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
14But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.
15For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
16For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
English Standard Version
Chapter 3
4Look 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. 5So 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!
6And 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.
7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
New International Version
Chapter 3
4Or 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. 5Likewise, 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. 6The 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.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.
10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.