| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 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 and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. |
| 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. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. |
| 3Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well. | 3And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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! 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. |
| 7For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, | 7For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. |
| 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. | 8But no human being can subdue 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 the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God's image. |
| 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers! | 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. |
| 11A spring cannot pour both fresh and brackish water from the same opening, can it? | 11A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? |
| 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 produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce 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 he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. |
| 14But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. | 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. |
| 15That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. | 15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. |
| 16For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. | 16For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil 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, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. |
| 18And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers. | 18And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace. |
|
