James 3-5

3¹My Brethren, don't desire to be teachers [instructors] because we will receive the greater judgment. ²Because we all stumble in many things. Any man who doesn't offend in word, is a (grown, aged, wise) man and has (learned) to bridle his WHOLE body. ³Observe, great ships driven by fierce winds can be turned with a very small helm wherever the captain wills. ⁴Observe, we put bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us and we can turn their whole body.

⁵Now the tongue is a little member that boasts of greatness. Behold, how great a [forest fire] a little [spark] kindles! ⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; that is how the tongue is among our members, it defiles the whole body and [rolls on destructively] and is (like the unquenchable) fire of hell. ⁷For every kind of beast, bird, serpent and sea creature is tamed and has been tamed by mankind; ⁸but the tongue no man can tame, it is evil, unruly full of deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless God the Father and with it we curse men who are made after the likeness of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth comes curses and blessings, my Brethren, this shouldn't be so. ¹¹Can a fountain send forth sweet and bitter (water) from the same source? ¹²My Brethren, can the fig tree bear olive berries? Or a vine bear figs? And no fountain can yield both salt and fresh water. ¹³So if there is a wise man endued with knowledge among you, let his good life show his works with humility (not condescension) of wisdom.

¹⁴If there is bitter envy (jealousy) and strife (arguing; contention) in your hearts, (don't get all puffed up) and lie against the truth. ¹⁵Because this kind of wisdom is not from above, it's earthly [fleshly lusting] and [it's just like the devils have]. ¹⁶There is confusion and every evil work where envy (jealousy) strife (arguing and contending) are. ¹⁷Wisdom from above is, first, pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to (petition; beseech), full of mercy and good fruits, without hypocrisy and is impartial. ¹⁸And the fruit of [impartial justice] is sown in peace by them that make peace.

4¹Where do these wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your own lusts that war in your [body]? ²You lust (after) and don't (get); you kill (out of) your desire to have and can't obtain (your desire). You fight and war and still have not because you don't ask. ³You ask but don't receive because you ask [with evil intent] so you can [use it] upon your (own) lusts. ⁴You, adulterers and adultresses, (unfaithful to God) don't you know that friendship of the world is enmity (in the dictionary you will find deeper meaning for enmity than just hatred or hostility) with God? So whoever will be a friend to the world (and the things in it) is the enemy of God. (It is okay to associate with people of the world, how else would you win them to the Lord, however, it is not okay to make deep friendships with them, remember friends are closer than brothers, and this you shouldn't do. Nor should you desire anything the world has to offer.). ⁵Do you think the scripture says [without a reason], "The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?" (talking of man's spirit, not God's). ⁶But He gives more grace, saying, "God resists the proud BUT gives grace to the humble".

⁷So, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (Matt.4:10-11). ⁸Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners (unbelievers); and purify your hearts you double-minded (unstable; undecided). ⁹Be [miserable], mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness. ¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. (James is speaking to the unbelivers among the twelve tribes of Israel, just like your pastor in church when gives the alter call).

¹¹Don't speak evil of one another, Brethren, he that speaks evil of and judges his brother, speaks evil of and judges the law, (love thy neighbor as thyself); and if you judge the law you aren't a doer of the but a judge. ¹²There is ONE lawgiver, He, who is able to save and to destroy. But you, who are you to judge another? ¹³Come on now, you that say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to the city, stay a year, buy and sell and get rich"; ¹⁴when you have no idea what will happen the next day because what is your life accept a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away? ¹⁵What you ought to say is, "If it is the Lord's will" we will live and do this or that. ¹⁶But now you rejoice in your [empty; idle] boastings, and all such rejoicing is evil. ¹⁷So, to him that knows to do good but doesn't is sinning.

5¹Come on now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming to you. ²Your riches are corrupted and your garments moth-eaten. ³Your gold and silver are [rusted] and that rust will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped together treasure in the last days. ⁴Observe, the fields you kept back by fraud, the hired laborers who've mowed down your fields cry and the cries of those who have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. (Saboath=God of Hosts). ⁵You've lived in pleasure on the earth and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter. (Beasts gorge themselves in false security not knowing that the slaughter house awaits them). ⁶You've condemned and killed the just and he doesn't resist you.

⁷So, be patient (hold out under trials), Brethren, to the coming of the Lord. Observe the farmer waiting expectantly for the precious fruit of the earth and has long patience for it till he received the early and [lighter; later in the season] rain. ⁸You also be patient [fix firmly; secure] your HEARTS; for the coming of the Lord draws near. ⁹MURMUR NOT AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, Brethren, that you aren't judged (guilty); Behold, the Judge [prepares to enter] the door. ¹⁰Consider the prophets, my Brethren, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering, afflictions and of patience. ¹¹(Hold that thought), we count them happy who endure. You've heard of the patience of Job and have seen [the happy conclusion brought by] the Lord, that the Lord is [full of] pity and tender mercy. ¹²But above all things, my Brethren, swear not, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; let you yes be yes and your no be no, [that] you don't fall (condemnation). (I'm not sure of the meaning here, to me personally, I think he is saying, don't make oaths and promises you can't keep! God takes oaths and promised very seriously-covenants).

¹³Are any among you suffering? Then he should pray. Are you merry? Then sing [praises]. ¹⁴Are there any sick among you? Call the elders of the church and let them pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord; ¹⁵And the prayer of faith will save [those laboring under disease]; and the Lord will raise them up and if he [is in a state of] having committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

¹⁶Confess your faults (frankly and openly) to each other and pray one for one another that you may be healed. The effectual, fervent prayer of a [justified Christian] avails much [in its workings].

¹⁷Elijah was a man subject to the same passions we are and he prayed earnestly (zealously) that it might not rain and it didn't rain on the earth for 3 1/2 years. ¹⁸He prayed again and the heavens gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.

¹⁹Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth and one of you converts him (changes his course); ²⁰Then know that the one who converts a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will hide a multitude of sins.