New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
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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Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.
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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For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
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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If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
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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Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
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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So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small 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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And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and 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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For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
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but no human being can tame the tongue--a restless evil, 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 it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.
10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
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From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.
11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
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Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish?
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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Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
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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Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
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 if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
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This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
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For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
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 from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
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And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.