Do not become many teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a greater judgment.
The Koine Bible
The Scriptures in Greek with direct English translation.
SBL Greek New Testament
James 3
Greek text followed verse by verse by a direct English translation.
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πολλὰ γὰρ πταίομεν ἅπαντες. εἴ τις ἐν λόγῳ οὐ πταίει, οὗτος τέλειος ἀνήρ, δυνατὸς χαλιναγωγῆσαι καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα.
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect person, able to bridle also the whole body.
εἰ δὲ τῶν ἵππων τοὺς χαλινοὺς εἰς τὰ στόματα βάλλομεν εἰς τὸ πείθεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἡμῖν, καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν μετάγομεν.
If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole body.
ἰδοὺ καὶ τὰ πλοῖα, τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα, μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται·
Look at the ships, though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever
So also the tongue is a small member and boasts great things. See how great a fire a small wood kindles.
καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα πῦρ, ὁ κόσμος τῆς ἀδικίας ἡ γλῶσσα καθίσταται ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ἡμῶν, ἡ σπιλοῦσα ὅλον τὸ σῶμα καὶ φλογίζουσα τὸν τροχὸν τῆς γενέσεως καὶ φλογιζομένη ὑπὸ τῆς γεέννης.
And the tongue is fire, the world of injustice. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth, and is set on fire by Gehenna.
πᾶσα γὰρ φύσις θηρίων τε καὶ πετεινῶν ἑρπετῶν τε καὶ ἐναλίων δαμάζεται καὶ δεδάμασται τῇ φύσει τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ·
For every kind of nature—of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures—is tamed and has been tamed by human nature.
But no human being can tame the tongue; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τὸν κύριον καὶ πατέρα, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς καθ' ὁμοίωσιν θεοῦ γεγονότας·
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who have been made according to the likeness of God.
From the same mouth come blessing and curse. It is not right, my brothers, for these things to happen this way.
Does a spring pour out from the same opening both sweet water and bitter?
Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water become sweet.
Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Let him show by good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom.
εἰ δὲ ζῆλον πικρὸν ἔχετε καὶ ἐριθείαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν, μὴ κατακαυχᾶσθε καὶ ψεύδεσθε κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.
This wisdom is not from above, but earthly, natural, demonic.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice.
ἡ δὲ ἄνωθεν σοφία πρῶτον μὲν ἁγνή ἐστιν, ἔπειτα εἰρηνική, ἐπιεικής, εὐπειθής, μεστὴ ἐλέους καὶ καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἀδιάκριτος, ἀνυπόκριτος·
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy.
But the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.