James 3 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

James 3 (WEBP)

[1] Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
[2] For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.
[3] Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
[4] Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
[5] So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
[6] And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.
[7] For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
[8] but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
[9] With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.
[10] Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
[11] Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
[12] Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
[13] Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
[14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.
[15] This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
[16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
[17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
[18] Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:4 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
James 3:6 or, Hell

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

James 3 (KJVS)

[1] My brethren , be () not many masters , knowing () that we shall receive () the greater condemnation .
[2] 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 .
[3] Behold (), we put () bits in the horses ’ mouths , that they may obey () us ; and we turn about () their whole body .
[4] 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 ().
[5] Even so the tongue is () a little member , and boasteth great things (). Behold (), how great a matter a little fire kindleth ()!
[6] 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 .
[7] 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 :
[8] But the tongue can () no man tame (); [it is] an unruly evil , full of deadly poison .
[9] Therewith bless we () God , even the Father ; and therewith curse we () men , which are made () after the similitude of God .
[10] Out of the same mouth proceedeth () blessing and cursing . My brethren , these things ought () not so to be ().
[11] Doth a fountain send forth () at the same place sweet [water] and bitter ?
[12] Can () the fig tree , my brethren , bear () olive berries ? either a vine , figs ? so [can] no fountain both yield () salt water and fresh .
[13] Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you ? let him shew () out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom .
[14] But if ye have () bitter envying and strife in your hearts , glory () not , and lie not () against the truth .
[15] This wisdom descendeth () () not from above , but [is] earthly , sensual , devilish .
[16] For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work .
[17] But 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 .
[18] And the fruit of righteousness is sown () in peace of them that make () peace .

Young’s Literal Translation

James 3 (YLT)

[1] Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive,
[2] for we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body;
[3] lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about;
[4] lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel,
[5] so also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle!
[6] and the tongue is a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by the gehenna.
[7] For every nature, both of beasts and of fowls, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and hath been subdued, by the human nature,
[8] and the tongue no one of men is able to subdue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison,
[9] with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude of God;
[10] out of the same mouth doth come forth blessing and cursing; it doth not need, my brethren, these things so to happen;
[11] doth the fountain out of the same opening pour forth the sweet and the bitter?
[12] is a fig-tree able, my brethren, olives to make? or a vine figs? so no fountain salt and sweet water is able to make.
[13] Who is wise and intelligent among you? let him shew out of the good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom,
[14] and if bitter zeal ye have, and rivalry in your heart, glory not, nor lie against the truth;
[15] this wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,
[16] for where zeal and rivalry are, there is insurrection and every evil matter;
[17] and the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical:-
[18] and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.