Young's Literal Translation YLT
New International Version NIV
1 Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive,
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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 we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one [is] a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body;
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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 lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about;
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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 lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel,
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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 also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle!
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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 the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by the gehenna.
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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 nature, both of beasts and of fowls, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and hath been subdued, by the human nature,
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All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
8 and the tongue no one of men is able to subdue, [it is] an unruly evil, 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 with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude 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 doth come forth blessing and cursing; it doth not need, my brethren, these things so to happen;
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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 out of the same opening pour forth the sweet and the bitter?
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Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 is a fig-tree able, my brethren, olives to make? or a vine figs? so no fountain salt and sweet water [is able] to make.
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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 intelligent among you? let him shew out of the good behaviour 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 and if bitter zeal ye have, and rivalry in your heart, glory not, nor lie 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 descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,
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Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 for where zeal and rivalry [are], there is insurrection and every evil matter;
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For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 and the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical: --
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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 the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.
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Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Young's Literal Translation 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.