James 3
A Small Rudder, and a Fire Among the Timbers
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Taming the Tongue
3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a greater judgment.
3:2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in speech, that person is a complete man, able to bridle his whole body also.
3:3Now if we put bits into horses’ mouths so that they obey us, we guide their whole body also.
3:4Look also at ships: although so large and driven by harsh winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s impulse wishes.
3:5So also the tongue is a small member and boasts great things. Look how small a fire sets so great a forest ablaze!
3:6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is established among our members as a world of unrighteousness, staining the whole body, setting the wheel of life ablaze, and itself set ablaze by Gehenna.
3:7For every kind of wild animal and bird, of creeping creature and sea creature, is tamed and has been tamed by humankind;
3:8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3:9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who have been made in God’s likeness.
3:10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to happen this way.
3:11Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?
3:12My brothers, can a fig tree produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water produce sweet water.
Wisdom from Above
3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his works by good conduct in the gentleness of wisdom.
3:14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast against the truth and lie against it.
3:15This is not the wisdom coming down from above; it is earthly, merely natural, demonic.
3:16For where there are jealousy and selfish ambition, there are disorder and every foul practice.
3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, open to persuasion, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, without hypocrisy.
3:18And a fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.