Online Bible

Epistle of James, Chapter 3

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James 3 NASB - New American Standard BibleJames 3 NASB - New American Standard Bible

Chapter 3 of James—New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  1. 1Let not many of you become teachers, 2my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a [a]stricter judgment.
  2. For we all 3stumble in many ways. 4If anyone does not stumble in [b]what he says, he is a 5perfect man, able to 6bridle the whole body as well.
  3. Now 7if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
  4. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
  5. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it 8boasts of great things.
    9See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
  6. And 10the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which 11defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our [c]life, and is set on fire by [d]12hell.
  7. For every [e]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human [f]race.
  8. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of 13deadly poison.
  9. With it we bless 14our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, 15who have been made in the likeness of God;
  10. from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
  11. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both [g]fresh and bitter water?
  12. 16Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce [h]fresh.
  13. ¶ Who among you is wise and understanding? 17Let him show by his 18good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
  14. But if you have bitter 19jealousy and [i]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against 20the truth.
  15. This wisdom is not that which comes down 21from above, but is 22earthly, [j]23natural, 24demonic.
  16. For where 25jealousy and [k]selfish ambition exist, [l]there is disorder and every evil thing.
  17. But the wisdom 26from above is first 27pure, then 28peaceable, 29gentle, [m]reasonable, 30full of mercy and good fruits, 31unwavering, without 32hypocrisy.
  18. And the [n]33seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace [o]by those who make peace.

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Or greater condemnation
  2. ^ Lit word
  3. ^ Or existence, origin
  4. ^ Gr Gehenna
  5. ^ Lit nature
  6. ^ Lit nature
  7. ^ Lit sweet
  8. ^ V 11, note 1
  9. ^ Or strife
  10. ^ Or unspiritual
  11. ^ V 14, note 1
  12. ^ I.e. in that place
  13. ^ Or willing to yield
  14. ^ Lit fruit of righteousness
  15. ^ Or for

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Mt 23:8; Ro 2:20f; 1Ti 1:7
  2. ^ Jm 1:16; 3:10
  3. ^ Jm 2:10
  4. ^ Mt 12:34-37; Jm 3:2-12
  5. ^ Jm 1:4
  6. ^ Jm 1:26
  7. ^ Ps 32:9
  8. ^ Ps 12:3f; 73:8f
  9. ^ Pr 26:20f
  10. ^ Ps 120:2, 3; Pr 16:27
  11. ^ Mt 12:36f; 15:11, 18f
  12. ^ Mt 5:22
  13. ^ Ps 140:3; Ec 10:11; Ro 3:13
  14. ^ Jm 1:27
  15. ^ Ge 1:26; 1Co 11:7
  16. ^ Mt 7:16
  17. ^ Jm 2:18
  18. ^ 1Pe 2:12
  19. ^ Ro 2:8; 2Co 12:20; Jm 3:16
  20. ^ 1Ti 2:4; Jm 1:18; 5:19
  21. ^ Jm 1:17
  22. ^ 1Co 2:6; 3:19
  23. ^ 2Co 1:12; Jd 19
  24. ^ 2Th 2:9f; 1Ti 4:1; Re 2:24
  25. ^ Ro 2:8; 2Co 12:20; Jm 3:14
  26. ^ Jm 1:17
  27. ^ 2Co 7:11; Jm 4:8
  28. ^ Mt 5:9; Heb 12:11
  29. ^ Ti 3:2
  30. ^ Lu 6:36; Jm 2:13
  31. ^ Jm 2:4
  32. ^ Ro 12:9; 2Co 6:6
  33. ^ Pr 11:18; Is 32:17; Ho 10:12; Am 6:12; Ga 6:8; Pp 1:11

Read James Chapter 3 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  2. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  3. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  4. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  5. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  6. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  7. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

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