| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. | 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. |
| 2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the 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. |
| 3Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. | 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. |
| 4Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. | 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. |
| 5Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! | 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! |
| 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is 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 every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. | 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, |
| 8But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. | 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. |
| 9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. | 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. |
| 10Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. | 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. |
| 11Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? | 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? |
| 12Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. | 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. |
| 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. | 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 envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. | 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. |
| 15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. | 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. |
| 16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. | 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. |
| 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. | 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. |
| 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. | 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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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