James 3:3

3:3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. ¹ 

James 3:17

3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, ²  full of mercy and good fruit, ³  impartial, and not hypocritical. ⁴ 

James 4:14

4:14 You ⁵  do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? ⁶  For you are a puff of smoke ⁷  that appears for a short time and then vanishes.

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¹ tn Grk “their entire body.”

² tn Or “willing to yield,” “open to persuasion.”

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

⁴ tn Or “sincere.”

⁵ tn Grk “who” (continuing the description of the people of v. 13). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

⁶ tn Or “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.”

⁷ tn Or “a vapor.” The Greek word ἀτμίς (atmis) denotes a swirl of smoke arising from a fire (cf. Gen 19:28; Lev 16:13; Joel 2:30 [Acts 2:19]; Ezek 8:11).