| King James Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. | 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others. |
| 2For 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. | 2For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body. |
| 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. | 3Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well. |
| 4Behold 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. | 4And look at ships! They are so big that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the helmsman directs. |
| 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! | 5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it can boast of great achievements. A huge forest can be set on fire by a little flame. |
| 6And 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. | 6The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. |
| 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: | 7For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, |
| 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. | 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. |
| 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. | 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God's likeness. |
| 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. | 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers! |
| 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? | 11A spring cannot pour both fresh and brackish water from the same opening, can it? |
| 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. | 12My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. |
| 13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. | 13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely. |
| 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. | 14But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. |
| 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. | 15That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. |
| 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. | 16For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. |
| 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. | 17However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. |
| 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. | 18And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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