James 3:9-12

3:9 With it we bless the Lord ¹  and Father, and with it we curse people ²  made in God’s image. 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. ³  3:11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 3:12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, ⁴  or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.

¹ tc Most later mss (Ï), along with several versional witnesses, have θεόν (qeon, “God”) here instead of κύριον (kurion, “Lord”). Such is a predictable variant since nowhere else in the NT is God described as “Lord and Father,” but he is called “God and Father” on several occasions. Further, the reading κύριον is well supported by early and diversified witnesses (̲⁰ א A B C P Ψ 33 81 945 1241 1739), rendering it as the overwhelmingly preferred reading.

² tn Grk “men”; but here ἀνθρώπους (anqrwpous) has generic force, referring to both men and women.

³ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.