Restraining The Tongue
1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment,(A)
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
1 (A)Let not many of you become teachers, (B)my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a (a)stricter judgment.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others.
2 for we all stumble in many ways.(B) If anyone does not stumble in what he says,(a) he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.(b)(C)
2 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.
2 For we all (C)stumble in many ways. (D)If anyone does not stumble in (b)what he says, he is a (E)perfect man, able to (F)bridle the whole body as well.
2 For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body.
2 For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses].
3 Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us,(D) we also guide the whole animal.(c)
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
3 Now (G)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
3 Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well.
3 Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well.
4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
4 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.
4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
4 And look at ships! They are so big that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the helmsman directs.
4 And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.
5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things.(E) Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it (H)boasts of great things.(I)See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
5 In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it can boast of great achievements. A huge forest can be set on fire by a little flame.
5 In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark!
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body,(F) sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.
6 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.
6 And (J)the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which (K)defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our (c)life, and is set on fire by (d)(L)hell.
6 The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man,
7 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:
7 For every (e)species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human (f)race.
7 For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans,
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
9 We praise our(d) Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it.(H)
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
9 With it we bless (N)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, (O)who have been made in the likeness of God;
9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God's likeness.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.
10 Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers!
10 Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].
12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
12 (P)Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce (h)fresh.
12 My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
The Wisdom That Comes Down From Above
13 Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness.(I)
13 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.
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (Q)Let him show by his (R)good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely.
13 Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth.(J)
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
14 But if you have bitter (S)jealousy and (i)selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against (T)the truth.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and [as a result] be in defiance of the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down (U)from above, but is (V)earthly, (j)(W)natural, (X)demonic.
15 That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic.
15 This [superficial] wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly (secular), natural (unspiritual), even demonic.
16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
16 For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.(L)
17 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.
17 But the wisdom (Z)from above is first (AA)pure, then (AB)peaceable, (AC)gentle, (m)reasonable, (AD)full of mercy and good fruits, (AE)unwavering, without (AF)hypocrisy.
17 However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
18 And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers.
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals].