James 3

Authored by: American Standard Version
3:1
Μη πολλοι διδασκαλοι γινεσθε αδελφοι μου ειδοτες οτι μειζον κριμα λημψομεθα
Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
3:2
πολλα γαρ πταιομεν απαντες ει τις εν λογω ου πταιει ουτος τελειος ανηρ δυνατος χαλιναγωγησαι και ολον το σωμα
For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
3:3
Ει δε των ιππων τους χαλινους εις τα στοματα βαλλομεν εις το πειθεσθαι αυτους ημιν και ολον το σωμα αυτων μεταγομεν
Now if we put the horses’ bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
3:4
ιδου και τα πλοια τηλικαυτα οντα και υπο ανεμων σκληρων ελαυνομενα μεταγεται υπο ελαχιστου πηδαλιου οπου η ορμη του ευθυνοντος βουλεται
Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.
3:5
Ουτως και η γλωσσα μικρον μελος εστιν και μεγαλα αυχει ιδου ηλικον πυρ ηλικην υλην αναπτει
So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
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3:6
και η γλωσσα πυρ ο κοσμος της αδικιας η γλωσσα καθισταται εν τοις μελεσιν ημων η σπιλουσα ολον το σωμα και φλογιζουσα τον τροχον της γενεσεως και φλογιζομενη υπο της γεεννης
And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
3:7
Πασα γαρ φυσις θηριων τε και πετεινων ερπετων τε και εναλιων δαμαζεται και δεδαμασται τη φυσει τη ανθρωπινη
For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind:
3:8
την δε γλωσσαν ουδεις δαμασαι δυναται ανθρωπων ακαταστατον κακον μεστη ιου θανατηφορου
but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison.
3:9
Εν αυτη ευλογουμεν τον Κυριον και Πατερα και εν αυτη καταρωμεθα τους ανθρωπους τους καθ ομοιωσιν Θεου γεγονοτας
Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:
3:10
εκ του αυτου στοματος εξερχεται ευλογια και καταρα ου χρη αδελφοι μου ταυτα ουτως γινεσθαι
out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
3:11
μητι η πηγη εκ της αυτης οπης βρυει το γλυκυ και το πικρον
Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?
3:12
μη δυναται αδελφοι μου συκη ελαιας ποιησαι η αμπελος συκα ουτε αλυκον γλυκυ ποιησαι υδωρ
can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? neither can salt water yield sweet.
3:13
Τις σοφος και επιστημων εν υμιν δειξατω εκ της καλης αναστροφης τα εργα αυτου εν πραυτητι σοφιας
Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
3:14
ει δε ζηλον πικρον εχετε και εριθειαν εν τη καρδια υμων μη κατακαυχασθε και ψευδεσθε κατα της αληθειας
But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.
3:15
ουκ εστιν αυτη η σοφια ανωθεν κατερχομενη αλλα επιγειος ψυχικη δαιμονιωδης
This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
3:16
οπου γαρ ζηλος και εριθεια εκει ακαταστασια και παν φαυλον πραγμα
For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.
3:17
Η δε ανωθεν σοφια πρωτον μεν αγνη εστιν επειτα ειρηνικη επιεικης ευπειθης μεστη ελεους και καρπων αγαθων αδιακριτος ανυποκριτος
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.
3:18
καρπος δε δικαιοσυνης εν ειρηνη σπειρεται τοις ποιουσιν ειρηνην
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.
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A spark setting a forest on fire

'The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things' compares speech to a small spark capable of setting an entire forest on fire. The chapter notes the strange inconsistency of blessing God and cursing people made in God's image with the very ...

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