| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. | 1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. |
| 2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. | 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. |
| 3Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. | 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. |
| 4Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. | 4Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined. |
| 5Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! | 5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. |
| 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. | 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. |
| 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. | 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, |
| 8But no man can tame the tongue. 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. |
| 9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. | 9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. |
| 10Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. | 10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! |
| 11Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? | 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? |
| 12Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. | 12My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. |
| 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. | 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. |
| 14But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. | 14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. |
| 15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. | 15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. |
| 16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. | 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. |
| 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. | 17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. |
| 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. | 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness. |
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