King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
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Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
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 all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.
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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If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we 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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Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
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, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
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 tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself 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 beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be 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 one can tame the tongue—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 those 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 and sisters, this ought not to be so.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
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Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?
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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Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield 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.
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Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born 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 envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
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Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
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For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.
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 peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
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And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.