James 3: Taming the Tongue

James 3 warns that teachers will be judged more strictly, because everyone stumbles in many ways, especially in speech. The tongue is small, like a horse’s bit, a ship’s rudder or a little fire, but it can steer or burn a great deal. With the same mouth people bless God and curse people made in his image, and this ought not to be so. True wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy and good fruit, and peacemakers sow a harvest of righteousness.

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Read James 3

World English Bible · 18 verses

¹ Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

James 3 · Preschool

Kind Words

Name Date

Color the horse, the boat and the fire. Our words are small but strong!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

James 3:10 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Explain that the same mouth can say kind words or hurtful words. God wants our words to bless others. Take turns saying something kind about each other.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

James 3 · Grade 4

Wisdom from Above

Name Date

Read and Think

James 3 begins by warning that not many should become teachers, because teachers will receive heavier judgment. We all stumble in many things, and a person who never stumbles in word would be able to control the whole body. James uses three pictures. A small bit steers a horse, a small rudder steers a large ship, and a small fire sets a forest ablaze.

The tongue is like that fire. No one can tame it alone. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse people made in the image of God. James says these things ought not to be so. A spring does not pour out fresh and bitter water from the same opening, and a fig tree cannot yield olives.

James then compares two kinds of wisdom. Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition are earthly wisdom, and they lead to confusion and every evil deed. 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. Peacemakers sow in peace and reap righteousness.

Show What You Know

Why should not many become teachers?
What three pictures does James use?
Why is cursing people especially wrong?
What does selfish ambition lead to?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

blesspeaceshipfirefresh

A small bit steers a horse, a small rudder steers a large , and a small fire sets a forest ablaze.
The tongue is like that .
With it we our God and Father, and with it we curse people made in the image of God.
A spring does not pour out and bitter water from the same opening, and a fig tree cannot yield olives.
Peacemakers sow in and reap righteousness.

Think About It

Which of the three pictures helps you most to remember the power of words?
Which quality of wisdom from above do you most want to grow in?

Memory Verse

“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.”

James 3:17 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can your words help others this week?
How does jealousy hurt a group of friends?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

James 3 · Grade 5

The Power of Words

Name Date

Read and Think

James 3 opens with a caution about teaching: Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. Speech is where everyone falls short. 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. Words reveal and shape the whole person.

James gives three images. Bits in horses’ mouths guide their whole body. Ships, though large and driven by fierce winds, are turned by a very small rudder. So the tongue is a little member that boasts great things, and a small fire can set a large forest ablaze. Every kind of animal has been tamed by people, but no one can tame the tongue alone. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. Nature itself shows this is wrong: a spring does not give both fresh and salt water.

The chapter ends by comparing two kinds of wisdom. Earthly wisdom is marked by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, and where these are, there is confusion and every evil deed. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James closes with a promise: the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Show What You Know

Why does James say a person who never stumbles in word is perfect?
What point do the bit and rudder make?
How does nature show that blessing and cursing should not come together?
What is the first quality of wisdom from above?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

kindmouthfireblessWords

reveal and shape the whole person.
So the tongue is a little member that boasts great things, and a small can set a large forest ablaze.
Every of animal has been tamed by people, but no one can tame the tongue alone.
With it we our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.
Out of the same comes blessing and cursing.

Think About It

How do your words show what is happening in your heart?
Where could you be a peacemaker this week?

Memory Verse

“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.”

James 3:2 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How does a peacemaker sow?
How is the tongue like a fire?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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James 3: Taming the Tongue

Read James 3

Worksheets

Kind Words

Prayer

Take It Home

Kind Words

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Words Matter

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Prayer

Take It Home

A Small but Strong Tongue

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Bit, Rudder, and Fire

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Story Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Wisdom from Above

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

The Power of Words

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options