1 Only a few of you, my brothers, should be teachers, bearing in mind that we shall receive a stricter judgement.
2 For we all trip up in many ways. Someone who does not trip up in speech has reached perfection and is able to keep the whole body on a tight rein.
3 Once we put a bit in the horse's mouth, to make it do what we want, we have the whole animal under our control.
4 Or think of ships: no matter how big they are, even if a gale is driving them, they are directed by a tiny rudder wherever the whim of the helmsman decides.
5 So the tongue is only a tiny part of the body, but its boasts are great. Think how small a flame can set fire to a huge forest;
6 The tongue is a flame too. Among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a whole wicked world: it infects the whole body; catching fire itself from hell, it sets fire to the whole wheel of creation.
7 Wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish of every kind can all be tamed, and have been tamed, by humans;
8 but nobody can tame the tongue -- it is a pest that will not keep still, full of deadly poison.
9 We use it to bless the Lord and Father, but we also use it to curse people who are made in God's image:
10 the blessing and curse come out of the same mouth. My brothers, this must be wrong-
11 does any water supply give a flow of fresh water and salt water out of the same pipe?
12 Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers, or a vine yield figs? No more can sea water yield fresh water.
13 Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide the truth with lies;
15 this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish.
16 Wherever there are jealousy and ambition, there are also disharmony and wickedness of every kind;
17 whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it is also peaceable, kindly and considerate; it is full of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.
18 The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.
Versículos relacionados com James, 3:
Chapter 3 of St. James book addresses the theme of language control, warning of the destructive power it can have. The chapter highlights the importance of having self -control and wisdom in the way one speaks and relates to others. Below is five selected verses from other Bible books that are related to the topics covered in St. James 3:
Proverbs 12:18: "There are words that hurt as a sword, but the tongue of the wise ones brings healing." This verse highlights the power of words to hurt or heal. It reinforces the importance of choosing the words that are said to carefully.
Proverbs 16:23-24: "The heart of the wise man makes his mouth speak and adds doctrine to his lips. The soft words are honey, sweet to soul and health to bones." This verse emphasizes the importance of wisdom and how it influences the way we speak. It shows that kind words can have a healing effect.
Ephesians 4:29: "There is no way out of your mouth, but solely what is good for building, as needed, and thus transmits grace to those who hear." This verse highlights the importance of speaking words that build and help people.
Proverbs 17:27: "He who has moderate knowledge of his words, and the man of discernment is cold of spirit." This verse highlights the importance of having self -control and wisdom in the way they speak.
Matthew 12:36-37: "I say that of every frivolous word to utter men, they will realize it on the day of judgment; for by your words you will be justified and, by your words, you will be condemned." This verse emphasizes the importance of being careful about the words that are said, for they have the power to influence divine judgment.
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