New King James Version NKJV
New International Version NIV
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter 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 we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, 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 Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn 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 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
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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 boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
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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. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it 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 beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has 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 no man can tame the tongue. 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 bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been 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 proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
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Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
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Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields 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 wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in 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 you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and 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 does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
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Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
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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, willing to yield, 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 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. 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.