MKJV - James - 3

3:1  My brothers, do not be many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

3:2  For in many things we all offend. If anyone does not offend in word, the same is a full-grown man, able also to bridle the whole body.

3:3  Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.

3:4  Behold also the ships being so great, and driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small rudder, where the impulse of him steering desires.

3:5  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Behold how little a fire kindles how large a forest!

3:6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. So the tongue is set among our members, spotting all the body and inflaming the course of nature, and being inflamed by hell.

3:7  For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of sea-animals, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.

3:8  But no one can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

3:9  By this we bless God, even the Father. And by this we curse men, who have come into being according to the image of God.

3:10  Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

3:11  Does a fountain send forth at the same hole the sweet and the bitter?

3:12  Can the fig tree, my brothers, bear olive berries; or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

3:13  Who is wise and knowing among you? Let him show his works by his good conduct with meekness of wisdom.

3:14  But if you have bitter jealousy and strife in your hearts, do not glory and lie against the truth.

3:15  This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

3:16  For where envying and strife are, there is confusion and every foul deed.

3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first truly pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

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