---
title: "James 3 — World English Bible | Favorite Scriptures"
description: "Read James 3 in the World English Bible. Free Bible reading, no account needed. Browse books and chapters, then save favorite passages in your personal library."
last_updated: "2026-10-08"
doc_version: "1"
language: "en"
canonical: "https://favoritescriptures.com/bible/james/3"
---

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World English Bible

# James 3

[1](#verse-1) Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

[2](#verse-2) For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.

[3](#verse-3) Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

[4](#verse-4) Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.

[5](#verse-5) So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

[6](#verse-6) And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.

[7](#verse-7) For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;

[8](#verse-8) but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

[9](#verse-9) With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.

[10](#verse-10) Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

[11](#verse-11) Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?

[12](#verse-12) Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

[13](#verse-13) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

[14](#verse-14) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.

[15](#verse-15) This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

[16](#verse-16) For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

[17](#verse-17) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

[18](#verse-18) Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

[← James 2](/bible/james/2)[James 4 →](/bible/james/4)

World English Bible · Public domain

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