1 M y brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

My Christian brothers, not many of you should become teachers. If we do wrong, it will be held against us more than other people who are not teachers.

2 F or 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.

We all make many mistakes. If anyone does not make a mistake with his tongue by saying the wrong things, he is a perfect man. It shows he is able to make his body do what he wants it to do.

3 B ehold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

We make a horse go wherever we want it to go by a small bit in its mouth. We turn its whole body by this.

4 B ehold 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.

Sailing ships are driven by strong winds. But a small rudder turns a large ship whatever way the man at the wheel wants the ship to go.

5 E ven so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

The tongue is also a small part of the body, but it can speak big things. See how a very small fire can set many trees on fire.

6 A nd 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.

The tongue is a fire. It is full of wrong. It poisons the whole body. The tongue sets our whole lives on fire with a fire that comes from hell.

7 F or every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

Men can make all kinds of animals and birds and fish and snakes do what they want them to do.

8 B ut the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

But no man can make his tongue say what he wants it to say. It is sinful and does not rest. It is full of poison that kills.

9 T herewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

With our tongue we give thanks to our Father in heaven. And with our tongue we speak bad words against men who are made like God.

10 O ut of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Giving thanks and speaking bad words come from the same mouth. My Christian brothers, this is not right!

11 D oth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

Does a well of water give good water and bad water from the same place?

12 C an the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Can a fig tree give olives or can a grape-vine give figs? A well does not give both good water and bad water. Wisdom from Above

13 W ho is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Who among you is wise and understands? Let that one show from a good life by the things he does that he is wise and gentle.

14 B ut if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

If you have jealousy in your heart and fight to have many things, do not be proud of it. Do not lie against the truth.

15 T his wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

This is not the kind of wisdom that comes from God. But this wisdom comes from the world and from that which is not Christian and from the devil.

16 F or where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Wherever you find jealousy and fighting, there will be trouble and every other kind of wrong-doing.

17 B ut 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.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. Then it gives peace. It is gentle and willing to obey. It is full of loving-kindness and of doing good. It has no doubts and does not pretend to be something it is not.

18 A nd the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Those who plant seeds of peace will gather what is right and good.