| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. | 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 ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his 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. |
| 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. | 3And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. |
| 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. | 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. |
| 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! | 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 unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and 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 sea creature, can be 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 human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless 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 Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. | 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God's image. |
| 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, 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 pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? | 11A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? |
| 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. | 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? By his good conduct let him show his works 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 jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. | 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. |
| 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. | 15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. |
| 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. | 16For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. |
| 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. | 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. |
| 18And a harvest 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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