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James 3
Jas
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Chapter 3
Uncontrolled language
1
Only a few of you, my brothers, should be teachers, bearing in mind that those of us who teach can expect a stricter judgement.
2
After all, every one of us does something wrong, over and over again; the only man who could reach perfection would be someone who never said anything wrong – he would be able to control every part of himself.
3
Once we put a bit into the horse’s mouth, to make it do what we want, we have the whole animal under our control.
4
Or think of ships: no matter how big they are, even if a gale is driving them, the man at the helm can steer them anywhere he likes by controlling a tiny rudder.
5
So is the tongue only a tiny part of the body, but it can proudly claim that it does great things. Think how small a flame can set fire to a huge forest;
6
the tongue is a flame like that. Among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a whole wicked world in itself: it infects the whole body; catching fire itself from hell, it sets fire to the whole wheel of creation.
7
Wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish can all be tamed by man, and often are;
8
but nobody can tame the tongue – it is a pest that will not keep still, full of deadly poison.
9
We use it to bless the Lord and Father, but we also use it to curse men who are made in God’s image:
10
the blessing and the curse come out of the same mouth. My brothers, this must be wrong –
11
does any water supply give a flow of fresh water and salt water out of the same pipe?
12
Can a fig tree give you olives, my brothers, or a vine give figs? No more can sea water give you fresh water.
Real wisdom and its opposite
13
If there are any wise or learned men among you, let them show it by their good lives, with humility and wisdom in their actions.
14
But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or a self-seeking ambition, never make any claims for yourself or cover up the truth with lies –
15
principles of this kind are not the wisdom that comes down from above: they are only earthly, animal and devilish.
16
Wherever you find jealousy and ambition, you find disharmony, and wicked things of every kind being done;
17
whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it also makes for peace, and is kindly and considerate; it is full of compassion and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.
18
Peacemakers, when they work for peace, sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness.
Chapters of James
1
2
3
4
5
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