James 3
Taming the Tongue
1 a Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For b we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says c he is a perfect man d able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put e bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet f it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And g the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members h staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life ▼
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Or wheel of birth
and set on fire by hell.
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Greek Gehenna
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil k full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people l who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers
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Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12
these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Wisdom from Above
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? n By his good conduct let him show his works o in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter p jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not q the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual r demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But s the wisdom from above is first pure, then t peaceable, gentle, open to reason u full of mercy and good fruits v impartial and w sincere. 18 And x a harvest of righteousness y is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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