Third Millennium Bible TMB
New International Version NIV
1 My brethren, let not many be masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
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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 offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle 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 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
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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 also the ships, which though they be so great and are driven by fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the helmsman pleases.
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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 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a wood a little fire kindleth!
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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, 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 from 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 beast and bird and serpent and thing 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 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 Therewith we bless God, even the Father, and therewith we curse men, who are made in 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 proceedeth 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 a fountain send forth from the same place sweet water and bitter?
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Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries, or a vine figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.
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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 a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show his works out of good conduct and with the 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 envy and strife in your hearts, 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 Such wisdom descendeth not 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 envy and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work.
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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 partiality and 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 of those who make peace.
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Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
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.