James 3 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

The Untamable Tongue

The Tongue Cannot Be Tamed

Jas 3:1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

Jas 3:2For 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.

Jas 3:3

Jas 3:3Indeed,[fn] we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

Jas 3:4

Jas 3:4Look 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.

Jas 3:5

Jas 3:5Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

Jas 3:6

Jas 3:6And 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.

Jas 3:7

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

Jas 3:8

Jas 3:8But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Jas 3:9

Jas 3:9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

Jas 3:10

Jas 3:10Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Jas 3:11

Jas 3:11Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?

Jas 3:12

Jas 3:12Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.[fn]

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

Jas 3:13

Jas 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

Jas 3:14

Jas 3:14But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

Jas 3:15

Jas 3:15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

Jas 3:16

Jas 3:16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Jas 3:17

Jas 3:17But 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.

Jas 3:18

Jas 3:18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

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

NKJV Footnotes

(3:3)

NU-Text reads Now if.

(3:12)

NU-Text reads Neither can a salty spring produce fresh water.

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