New Testament · Letters

James chapter 3

Not many of you should become , my brothers and sisters, because you know that those of us who teach will be held to a .We all in many ways. If someone never stumbles in what they say, that person — they can keep their whole body in check too.Think about it — we put in horses’ mouths to make them obey us, and we can steer the whole animal.Or look at ships — even though they’re massive and driven by fierce winds, a tiny steers them wherever the captain wants to go.In the same way, the tongue is a tiny part of the body, but it . Think about how a small flame sets an entire forest on fire.The tongue is a fire — a whole sitting right there among the parts of your body. It the entire person, sets the whole on fire, and is itself set on fire by the .Every kind of animal — wild beasts, birds, reptiles, sea creatures — has been by humans and continues to be tamed.But no one can tame the tongue. It’s a , full of .With the tongue we the , and with it we people who are made in . and come pouring out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it shouldn’t be this way.Does a pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening?Can a produce olives, my brothers and sisters? Can a grapevine produce figs? And a salt spring can’t produce fresh water either.Who among you is and understanding? Let them show it by living well — by actions done with the that comes from wisdom.But if you have and in your hearts, don’t brag about it and don’t lie against what’s true.That kind of “wisdom” doesn’t come from above — it’s , , even .Because wherever jealousy and selfish ambition exist, you’ll find and every kind of .But the wisdom that comes from above is first of all , then , , , overflowing with and , , and .And the is planted in by .