James 3 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Taming the Tongue

Jas 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Jas 3:2

Jas 3:2For 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.

Jas 3:3

Jas 3:3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.

Jas 3:4

Jas 3:4Look 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.

Jas 3:5

Jas 3:5So 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!

Jas 3:6

Jas 3:6And 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,[fn] and set on fire by hell.[fn]

Jas 3:7

Jas 3:7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,

Jas 3:8

Jas 3:8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Jas 3:9

Jas 3:9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

Jas 3:10

Jas 3:10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[fn] these things ought not to be so.

Jas 3:11

Jas 3:11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

Jas 3:12

Jas 3:12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Wisdom from Above

Jas 3:13

Jas 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Jas 3:14

Jas 3:14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

Jas 3:15

Jas 3:15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Jas 3:16

Jas 3:16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Jas 3:17

Jas 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Jas 3:18

Jas 3:18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(3:6)

Or wheel of birth

(3:6)

Greek Gehenna

(3:10)

Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

James Chapter 3 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation New International Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Morphological Greek New Testament Textus Receptus Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras

James 3 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Taming the Tongue

Wisdom from Above

ESV Footnotes

James Chapter 3 — Additional Translations:

Did You Know BLB Is User Supported?