| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment, | 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others. |
| 2for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body. | 2For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body. |
| 3Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. | 3Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well. |
| 4And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. | 4And look at ships! They are so big that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the helmsman directs. |
| 5So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. | 5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it can boast of great achievements. A huge forest can be set on fire by a little flame. |
| 6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. | 6The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. |
| 7Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, | 7For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, |
| 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. | 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. |
| 9We praise our Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God's likeness with it. | 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God's likeness. |
| 10Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way. | 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers! |
| 11Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? | 11A spring cannot pour both fresh and brackish water from the same opening, can it? |
| 12Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water. | 12My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. |
| 13Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness. | 13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely. |
| 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't brag and deny the truth. | 14But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. |
| 15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. | 15That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. |
| 16For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. | 16For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. |
| 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. | 17However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. |
| 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. | 18And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers. |
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