| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. | 1Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment, |
| 2For 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. | 2for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body. |
| 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. | 3Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. |
| 4Behold 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. | 4And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. |
| 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! | 5So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. |
| 6And 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. | 6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. |
| 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: | 7Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, |
| 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. | 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. |
| 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. | 9We praise our Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God's likeness with it. |
| 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. | 10Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way. |
| 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? | 11Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? |
| 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. | 12Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water. |
| 13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. | 13Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness. |
| 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. | 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't brag and deny the truth. |
| 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. | 15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. |
| 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. | 16For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. |
| 17But 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. | 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. |
| 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. | 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. |
|
