# James 3 (New King James Version)
The Untamable Tongue

##### Chapter 3
###### 1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.  
###### 2 For 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.  
###### 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.  
###### 4 Look 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.  
###### 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  
###### 6 And 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.  
###### 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  
###### 8 But no man can tame the tongue. _It is_ an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  
###### 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  
###### 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.  
###### 11 Does a spring send forth fresh _water_ and bitter from the same opening?  
###### 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

###### 13 Who _is_ wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct _that_ his works _are done_ in the meekness of wisdom.  
###### 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  
###### 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but _is_ earthly, sensual, demonic.  
###### 16 For where envy and self-seeking _exist,_ confusion and every evil thing _are_ there.  
###### 17 But 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.  
###### 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.