ACV - James - 3

3:1  Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive greater judgment.

3:2  For we all stumble in many things. If any man does not stumble in word, this is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

3:3  Behold we put bits into the mouths of horses for them to obey us, and we guide about their whole body.

3:4  Behold also the ships, being so great and driven by fierce winds, are guided about by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the man who steers determines.

3:5  So also the tongue is a little body-part, and boasts greatly. Behold a little fire, how much wood it kindles.

3:6  And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. Thus, the tongue is made to lead among our body-parts, defiling the whole body, and setting the cycle of nature on fire, and being set on fire by hell.

3:7  For every species, both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human species.

3:8  But no man is able to tame the tongue of men, an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

3:9  By it we bless the God and Father, and by it we curse men, who were made according to a likeness of God.

3:10  Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and curse. My brothers, these things ought not to happen this way.

3:11  Does the spring pour out from the same opening the sweet and the bitter?

3:12  A fig tree, my brothers, cannot make olives, or a grapevine figs. In the same way, no one spring makes water salty and sweet.

3:13  Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show from his good behavior his works in meekness of wisdom.

3:14  But if ye have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast, and do not lie against the truth.

3:15  This wisdom is not descending from above, but is earthly, world-soul, demonic.

3:16  For where envy and selfish ambition are, there is instability and every evil deed.

3:17  But the wisdom from above is indeed first pure, then peaceful, gentle, easily entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and non-hypocritical.

3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace to those who make peace.