James, 3

1. Only a few of you, my brothers, should be teachers, bearing in mind that we shall receive a stricter judgement.

1. Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.

2. For we all trip up in many ways. Someone who does not trip up in speech has reached perfection and is able to keep the whole body on a tight rein.

2. For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

3. Once we put a bit in the horse's mouth, to make it do what we want, we have the whole animal under our control.

3. If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.

4. Or think of ships: no matter how big they are, even if a gale is driving them, they are directed by a tiny rudder wherever the whim of the helmsman decides.

4. Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

5. So the tongue is only a tiny part of the body, but its boasts are great. Think how small a flame can set fire to a huge forest;

5. So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!

6. The tongue is a flame too. Among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a whole wicked world: it infects the whole body; catching fire itself from hell, it sets fire to the whole wheel of creation.

6. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.

7. Wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish of every kind can all be tamed, and have been tamed, by humans;

7. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind,

8. but nobody can tame the tongue -- it is a pest that will not keep still, full of deadly poison.

8. but no human being can tame the tongue -- a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9. We use it to bless the Lord and Father, but we also use it to curse people who are made in God's image:

9. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.

10. the blessing and curse come out of the same mouth. My brothers, this must be wrong-

10. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.

11. does any water supply give a flow of fresh water and salt water out of the same pipe?

11. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish?

12. Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers, or a vine yield figs? No more can sea water yield fresh water.

12. Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

13. Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.

13. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

14. But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide the truth with lies;

14. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

15. this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish.

15. This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.

16. Wherever there are jealousy and ambition, there are also disharmony and wickedness of every kind;

16. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

17. whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it is also peaceable, kindly and considerate; it is full of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.

17. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.

18. The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.

18. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.