King James Version KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, since you know that we will be judged more severely.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
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.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
3
If we put a bit into a horse's mouth to make it obey us, we control its whole body as well.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
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.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
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!
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 of hell.
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.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
7
For people have tamed and continue to tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures;
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
8
but the tongue no one can tame - it is an unstable and evil thing, full of death-dealing poison!
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
9
With it we bless ADONAI, the Father; and with it we curse people, who were made in the image of God.g
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
10
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing! Brothers, it isn't right for things to be this way.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
11
A spring doesn't send both fresh and bitter water from the same opening, does it?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
12
Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers? or a grapevine, figs? Neither does salt water produce fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
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.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
14
But if you harbor in your hearts bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don't boast and attack the truth with lies!
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
15
This wisdom is not the kind that comes down from above; on the contrary, it is worldly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
16
For where there are jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disharmony and every foul practice.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
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.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
18
And peacemakers who sow seed in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.