| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. | 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 3Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn 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. |
| 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. | 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 boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! | 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. 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. | 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 beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. | 7For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. |
| 8But no man can tame the tongue. 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. |
| 9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in 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 proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. | 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. |
| 11Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? | 11A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? |
| 12Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both 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 wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the 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 you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie 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 does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. | 15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. |
| 16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. | 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, willing to yield, 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. |
| 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. | 18And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace. |
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