James 3 – NIV & CCB

New International Version

James 3:1-18

Taming the Tongue

1Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

雅各书 3:1-18

邪恶的舌头

1我的弟兄姊妹,不要个个当教师,因为你们知道,我们为人师表的将受到更严格的评判, 2因为我们在许多方面难免有过失。如果谁在言语上没有过失,他就是纯全的人,也能在各方面保持自制。 3我们如果把嚼环放在马嘴里,便可以使它顺服,驾驭它。 4一艘大船在遭遇暴风吹袭时,船身虽然庞大,但舵手只要操纵一个小小的舵,就能随意驾驶它。

5同样,人的舌头虽然很小,却能说夸大的话。

看啊,小火星能点燃大森林。 6舌头就是火,是我们身体上的一个充满邪恶的世界,能玷污人的全身,足以毁掉人的一生,它是从地狱点燃的火。 7自然界中的各类走兽、飞禽、爬虫、水族都可以被驯服,也已经被人类驯服了, 8但无人能驯服自己的舌头,因为舌头是个无法控制的邪恶之物,充满了致命的毒气。 9我们用舌头来赞美主和天父,也用舌头来咒诅照着上帝的形象被造的人。 10赞美和咒诅竟然从同一张嘴里发出来。我的弟兄姊妹,这是不应该的! 11同一个泉源能涌出甜苦两样水吗? 12我的弟兄姊妹,无花果树能结出橄榄吗?葡萄树能结出无花果吗?一个咸水泉必流不出甜水来。

天上的智慧

13你们当中谁是有智慧、有见识的呢?请他带着来自智慧的谦和,在善行上表现出来。 14但如果你们心怀苦毒的嫉妒和自私的野心,就不要自夸说有智慧,也不要违背真理去撒谎。 15这种智慧并非来自天上,而是从世俗、私欲和魔鬼来的。 16哪里有嫉妒和自私的野心,哪里就会有混乱和各样的恶事。

17但从天上来的智慧首先是纯洁,然后是爱好和平、温良柔顺、充满怜悯、多结善果、不存偏见、没有虚伪。 18使人和睦的人撒下和平的种子,必收获仁义的果实。