American Standard Version ASV
New International Version NIV
1 Be not many [of you] teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
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Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
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We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
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When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.
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Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
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Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
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The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.
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All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison.
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but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:
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With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.
10 out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
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Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
11 Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter?
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Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt water yield sweet.
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My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
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Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.
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But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15 This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
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Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.
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For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.
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But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.
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Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.