James, 3

1. Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly,

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

2. for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also.

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.

3. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.

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.

4. It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot's inclination wishes.

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.

5. In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze.

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;

6. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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:

10. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers.

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

11. Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water?

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

12. Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.

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

13. Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.

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

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

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

15. Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

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

16. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.

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

17. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.

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.

18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

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