JamesChapter 3

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¹My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers. That is because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ²We all stumble in many ways. If someone never stumbles in what he says, he is a perfect man. He is able to control his whole body too. ³We put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us. Then we can steer the whole animal. ⁴Or think about ships. They are very large, and strong winds drive them along. But a very small rudder steers them wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body. But it brags about great things. Think about how a small spark can set a huge forest on fire. ⁶The tongue is also a fire. It is a whole world of evil among the parts of the body. It makes the whole person dirty. It sets the whole course of his life on fire. And hell itself sets the tongue on fire.a ⁷People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures. They are taming them now, and they have tamed them in the past. ⁸But no person can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With our tongue we praise our Lord and Father. And with it we curse people, who have been made in God's likeness. ¹⁰Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen! ¹¹Can fresh water and salt water both flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree grow olives? Can a grapevine grow figs? In the same way, a salty spring can't give fresh water. ¹³Who among you is wise and understands things? He should show it by living a good life. He should show it by doing good deeds in the humble way that wisdom gives. ¹⁴But maybe you hold on to bitter jealousy in your hearts. Maybe you only want to get ahead for yourself. If so, don't brag about it, and don't deny the truth. ¹⁵That kind of wisdom does not come down from heaven. It belongs to the earth. It is not spiritual. It comes from demons. ¹⁶Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be disorder and every kind of evil. ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure first of all. It also loves peace. It is gentle and willing to give way to others. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It treats everyone the same, and it is honest. ¹⁸Peacemakers who plant seeds of peace will harvest a crop of right living.