The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New International Version NIV
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, since you know that we will be judged more severely.
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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 ways; if someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who can bridle his 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 If we put a bit into a horse's mouth to make it obey us, we control its whole body as well.
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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 And think of a ship - although it is huge and is driven by strong winds, yet the pilot can steer it wherever he wants with just a small rudder.
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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 too the tongue is a tiny part of the body, yet it boasts great things. See how a little fire sets a whole forest ablaze!
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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 Yes, the tongue is a fire, a world of wickedness. The tongue is so placed in our body that it defiles every part of it, setting ablaze the whole of our life; and it is set on fire by Gei-Hinnom itself.
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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 people have tamed and continue to tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures;
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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 no one can tame - it is an unstable and evil thing, full of death-dealing 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 ADONAI, the Father; and with it we curse people, who were made in the image of God.g
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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 come blessing and cursing! Brothers, it isn't right for things to be this way.
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Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
11 A spring doesn't send both fresh and bitter water from the same opening, does it?
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Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers? or a grapevine, figs? Neither does salt water produce 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 among you is wise and understanding? Let him demonstrate it by his good way of life, by actions done in the humility that grows out 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 harbor in your hearts bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don't boast and attack the truth with lies!
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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 the kind that comes down from above; on the contrary, it is worldly, unspiritual, demonic.
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Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where there are jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disharmony and every foul practice.
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For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom from above is, first of all, pure, then peaceful, kind, open to reason, 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 peacemakers who sow seed in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
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Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.