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James 3

The Tongue Is a Fire

1

 aLet not many of you become teachers,  bmy brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a  1stricter judgment.

2

For we all  astumble in many ways.  bIf anyone does not stumble in  1what he says, he is a  cperfect man, able to  dbridle the whole body as well.

3

Now  aif we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

4

Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.

5

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it  aboasts of great things.

 bSee how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

6

And  athe tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which  bdefiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our  1life, and is set on fire by  2 chell.

7

For every  1species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human  1race.

8

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of  adeadly poison.

9

With it we bless  aour Lord and Father, and with it we curse men,  bwho have been made in the likeness of God;

10

from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

11

Does a fountain send out from the same opening both  1fresh and bitter water?

12

 aCan a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce  1fresh.

Wisdom from Above

13

Who among you is wise and understanding?  aLet him show by his  bgood behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

14

But if you have bitter  ajealousy and  1selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against  bthe truth.

15

This wisdom is not that which comes down  afrom above, but is  bearthly,  1 cnatural,  ddemonic.

16

For where  ajealousy and  1selfish ambition exist,  2there is disorder and every evil thing.

17

But the wisdom  afrom above is first  bpure, then  cpeaceable,  dgentle,  1reasonable,  efull of mercy and good fruits,  funwavering, without  ghypocrisy.

18

And the  1 aseed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace  2by those who make peace.



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(Produced: Sat Dec 22 11:24:31 2007)

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