The tongue
Not many of you should set up as teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will be judged more strictly. Because we all trip up in plenty of ways. If a man never trips up in what he says, he is a mature man, able to keep a rein on his whole body. We put bits in horses' mouths to make them obey us, and we turn their whole body about. Look at ships, too. As big as they are, and driven along by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the man at the helm wants to go. In the same way the tongue is a small thing, and it talks big. Look how big a fire a little spark gets going. And the tongue is a fire, a world of wickedness. It sits among our parts and dirties the whole body, and sets the whole course of life alight — and it is set alight by hell itself. Every kind of animal and bird, reptile and sea creature, is tamed and has been tamed by man. But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless God, even the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this shouldn't be. Does a spring pour out fresh water and salt water from the same opening? Can a fig tree bear olives, my brothers, or a vine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring give fresh water.
My brothers, don't let plenty of you be teachers, knowing we'll get the greater condemning. Because in plenty of things we all offend. If any man doesn't offend in word, he's a perfect man and able to hold in the whole body too. Look — we put bits in the horses' mouths so they can obey us, and we turn about their whole body. Look at the ships too, that though they're so big and are driven by fierce winds, still they're turned about with a very small rudder, wherever the one who steers wants. That's how the tongue is a little part too and boasts great things. Look — how great a matter a little fire kindles. And the tongue is a fire, a world of wrongdoing. That's how the tongue is among our parts, that it makes the whole body unclean and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell. Because every kind of animals and birds and snakes and things in the sea is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But the tongue no man can tame. It's an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless God and the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be like that. Does a spring send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brothers, bear olives? Or a vine, figs? That's how no spring can give both salt water and fresh.
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Not many of you should set up as teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will be judged more strictly.
My brothers, don't let plenty of you be teachers, knowing we'll get the greater condemning.
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Because we all trip up in plenty of ways. If a man never trips up in what he says, he is a mature man, able to keep a rein on his whole body.
Because in plenty of things we all offend. If any man doesn't offend in word, he's a perfect man and able to hold in the whole body too.
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
We put bits in horses' mouths to make them obey us, and we turn their whole body about.
Look — we put bits in the horses' mouths so they can obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Look at ships, too. As big as they are, and driven along by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the man at the helm wants to go.
Look at the ships too, that though they're so big and are driven by fierce winds, still they're turned about with a very small rudder, wherever the one who steers wants.
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
In the same way the tongue is a small thing, and it talks big. Look how big a fire a little spark gets going.
That's how the tongue is a little part too and boasts great things. Look — how great a matter a little fire kindles.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of wickedness. It sits among our parts and dirties the whole body, and sets the whole course of life alight — and it is set alight by hell itself.
And the tongue is a fire, a world of wrongdoing. That's how the tongue is among our parts, that it makes the whole body unclean and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Every kind of animal and bird, reptile and sea creature, is tamed and has been tamed by man.
Because every kind of animals and birds and snakes and things in the sea is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
But the tongue no man can tame. It's an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless God, even the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness.
With it we bless God and the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this shouldn't be.
Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be like that.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Does a spring pour out fresh water and salt water from the same opening?
Does a spring send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
Can a fig tree bear olives, my brothers, or a vine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring give fresh water.
Can the fig tree, my brothers, bear olives? Or a vine, figs? That's how no spring can give both salt water and fresh.
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Wisdom from above
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show it by his good life, by works done in the humility that comes of wisdom. But if you have got bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, don't boast about it, and don't lie against the truth. That is not the wisdom that comes down from above. That is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. Because where you get envy and selfish ambition, you get disorder and every evil work with it. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to reason with, full of mercy and good fruit, without favouritism and without pretence. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Who's a wise man and full of knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good way of life his works with meekness of wisdom. But if you've got bitter envying and arguing in your hearts, don't boast and don't lie against the truth. This wisdom doesn't come down from above, but is earthly, natural, of demons. Because where envying and arguing is, there's confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that's from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be dealt with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without pretending. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by the ones who make peace.
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show it by his good life, by works done in the humility that comes of wisdom.
Who's a wise man and full of knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good way of life his works with meekness of wisdom.
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
But if you have got bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, don't boast about it, and don't lie against the truth.
But if you've got bitter envying and arguing in your hearts, don't boast and don't lie against the truth.
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
That is not the wisdom that comes down from above. That is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.
This wisdom doesn't come down from above, but is earthly, natural, of demons.
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Because where you get envy and selfish ambition, you get disorder and every evil work with it.
Because where envying and arguing is, there's confusion and every evil work.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to reason with, full of mercy and good fruit, without favouritism and without pretence.
But the wisdom that's from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be dealt with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without pretending.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by the ones who make peace.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.