| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment, | 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. |
| 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 we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. |
| 3Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. | 3And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. |
| 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. | 4Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot's inclination 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. | 5So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. |
| 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. | 6And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence--and is set on fire by hell. |
| 7Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, | 7For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. |
| 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. | 8But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of 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 people made in God's image. |
| 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. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. |
| 11Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? | 11A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? |
| 12Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water. | 12Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water 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 is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. |
| 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 selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. |
| 15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. | 15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. |
| 16For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. | 16For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. |
| 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. | 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. |
| 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. | 18And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace. |
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