| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. | 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. |
| 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 we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. |
| 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. | 3And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. |
| 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. | 4Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot's inclination directs. |
| 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! | 5So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. |
| 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. | 6And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence--and is 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 every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. |
| 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. | 8But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of 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 people made in God's image. |
| 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. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. |
| 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? | 11A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? |
| 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. | 12Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water 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 is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. |
| 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 selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. |
| 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. | 15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. |
| 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. | 16For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. |
| 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. | 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. |
| 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. | 18And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace. |
|
