James 3:10-18

3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. ¹  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, ²  or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.

True Wisdom

3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. ³  3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. 3:15 Such ⁴  wisdom does not come ⁵  from above but is earthly, natural, ⁶  demonic. 3:16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, ⁷  full of mercy and good fruit, ⁸  impartial, and not hypocritical. ⁹  3:18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness ¹⁰  is planted ¹¹  in peace among ¹²  those who make peace.

[3:10]  ¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

[3:12]  ² tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

[3:13]  ³ tn Grk “works in the gentleness of wisdom.”

[3:15]  ⁴ tn Grk “This.”

[3:15]  ⁵ tn Grk “come down”; “descend.”

[3:15]  ⁶ tn Grk “soulish,” which describes life apart from God, characteristic of earthly human life as opposed to what is spiritual. Cf. 1 Cor 2:14; 15:44-46; Jude 19.

[3:17]  ⁷ tn Or “willing to yield,” “open to persuasion.”

[3:17]  ⁸ tn Grk “fruits.” The plural Greek term καρπούς has been translated with the collective singular “fruit.”

[3:17]  ⁹ tn Or “sincere.”

[3:18]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “the fruit of righteousness,” meaning righteous living as a fruit, as the thing produced.

[3:18]  ¹¹ tn Grk “is sown.”

[3:18]  ¹² tn Or “for,” or possibly “by.”