New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
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My brothers and sisters, most of you shouldn't want to be teachers. You know that those of us who teach will be held more accountable.
2 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.
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All of us get tripped up in many ways. Suppose someone is never wrong in what he says. Then he is a perfect man. He is able to keep his whole body under control.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
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We put a bit in the mouth of a horse to make it obey us. We can control the whole animal with it.
4 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.
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And how about ships? They are very big. They are driven along by strong winds. But they are steered by a very small rudder. It makes them go where the captain wants to go.
5 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.
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In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body. But it brags a lot. Think about how a small spark can set a big forest on fire.
6 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.
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The tongue also is a fire. The tongue is the most evil part of the body. It pollutes the whole person. It sets a person's whole way of life on fire. And the tongue is set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
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People have controlled all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea. They still control them.
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
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But no one can control the tongue. It is an evil thing that never rests. It is full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.
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With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. With our tongues we call down curses on people. We do it even though they have been created to be like God.
10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
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Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it shouldn't be that way.
11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
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Can fresh water and salt water flow out of the same spring?
12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
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My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives? Can a grapevine bear figs? Of course not. And a saltwater spring can't produce fresh water either.
13 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.
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Are any of you wise and understanding? You should show it by living a good life. Wise people aren't proud when they do good works.
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
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But suppose your hearts are jealous and bitter. Suppose you are concerned only about getting ahead. Don't brag about it. Don't say no to the truth.
15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
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Wisdom like that doesn't come down from heaven. It belongs to the earth. It doesn't come from the Holy Spirit. It comes from the devil.
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
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Are you jealous? Are you concerned only about getting ahead? Then your life will be a mess. You will be doing all kinds of evil things.
17 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.
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But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure. That's the most important thing about it. And that's not all. It also loves peace. It thinks about others. It obeys. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It is fair. It doesn't pretend to be what it is not.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
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Those who make peace should plant peace like a seed. If they do, it will produce a crop of right living.
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.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.