With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(A)

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An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

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The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

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18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(A)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(B)

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18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

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18 (A)There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

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The soothing tongue(A) is a tree of life,(B)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(C)

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A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

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A [a]wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:4 Lit. healing

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,(A)
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.(B)

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21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

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21 (A)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

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37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(A)

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37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

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37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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Taming the Tongue

Not many of you should become teachers,(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(B) more strictly.(C) We all stumble(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(E) is perfect,(F) able to keep their whole body in check.(G)

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(H) Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(I) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire,(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(K) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(L)

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(M)

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My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

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The Untamable Tongue

My brethren, (A)let not many of you become teachers, (B)knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For (C)we all stumble in many things. (D)If anyone does not stumble in word, (E)he is a [a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. [b]Indeed, (F)we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look 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. Even so (G)the tongue is a little member and (H)boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And (I)the tongue is a fire, a world of [c]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it (J)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of [d]nature; and it is set on fire by [e]hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, (K)full of deadly poison.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:2 mature
  2. James 3:3 NU Now if
  3. James 3:6 unrighteousness
  4. James 3:6 existence
  5. James 3:6 Gr. Gehenna