James 3:8-16
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 3
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
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
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
Chapter 3
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
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
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.