| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others. | 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. |
| 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. | 2For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. |
| 3Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well. | 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. |
| 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. | 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. |
| 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. | 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! |
| 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. | 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. |
| 7For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, | 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, |
| 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. | 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. |
| 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God's likeness. | 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. |
| 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers! | 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. |
| 11A spring cannot pour both fresh and brackish water from the same opening, can it? | 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? |
| 12My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. | 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. |
| 13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely. | 13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. |
| 14But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. | 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. |
| 15That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. | 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. |
| 16For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. | 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. |
| 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. | 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. |
| 18And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers. | 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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