James 3 My brethren, let not many of you be teachers, knowing that as such we shall be judged more strictly.

RKJNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ My brethren, let not many of you be teachers, knowing that as such we shall be judged more strictly. ² For we all stumble in many ways. If any man does not stumble in his words, he is a perfect man, and able also to bridle his whole body. ³ If we put bits in the mouths of horses, that they may obey us; we guide their whole bodies. ⁴ Behold also the ships, which, though they are so great and are driven by such fierce winds, yet they are guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot directs. ⁵ Even so, the tongue is a small part of the body, and it boasts of great things. Behold how great a forest is kindled by a little fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity among our members. It defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the whole course of life; and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷ For all kinds of beasts, and birds, and serpents, and creatures of the sea, are tamed, and have been tamed, by mankind: ⁸ But the tongue no man can tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a fountain send forth from the same opening fresh and bitter water? ¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olives? or a vine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring yield fresh water. ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? by his good life let him show forth works done with the humility of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. ¹⁶ For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is confusion and every evil work. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.