King James Version KJV
Lexham English Bible LEB
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
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Not many should become teachers, my brothers, [because you] know that we will receive a greater judgment.
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.
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For we all stumble [in] many [ways]. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he [is] a perfect individual, able to hold in check his whole body also.
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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And if we put bits in the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.
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.
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Behold also ships: [although they] are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wishes.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
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So also the tongue is a small member [of the body] and boasts great [things]. Behold how small a fire sets ablaze how great a forest!
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.
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And the tongue [is] a fire! The world of unrighteousness, the tongue, is set among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire {the course of human existence}, being set on fire by hell.
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:
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For every species of animals and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is being tamed and has been tamed by the human species,
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 is able to tame the tongue. [It is] a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
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With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
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From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these [things] ought not to be so!
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
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A spring does not pour forth from the same opening fresh and bitter [water, 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.
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A fig tree is not able, my brothers, to produce olives, or a grapevine figs. Neither can a saltwater spring produce fresh water.
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.
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Who [is] wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works, with the humility of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
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But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
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This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but [is] earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
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For where [there is] jealousy and selfish ambition, there [is] disorder and every evil 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.
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But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, obedient, full of mercy and good fruits, nonjudgmental, without hypocrisy,
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
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And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace among those who make peace.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.