Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Parallel translations
- WEB Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
- BSB Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
- ESV From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
- NKJV Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
- NASB from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.
- NLT And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Blessing and cursing should not come from the same mouth. Such double-tongued speech is unfitting for God's people.
Overview
James states plainly that this inconsistency ought not to exist among believers. The mixing of praise and cursing contradicts the wholehearted devotion God desires, echoing the letter's concern with double-mindedness. Transformed lives should yield consistent, life-giving speech that honors both God and neighbor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Rom 12:14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
- 1 Pet 3:9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
- Ps 50:16–20But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
- 1 Cor 3:3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
- 1 Tim 5:13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
- Mic 3:11The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
- Jer 7:4–10Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.
- Gen 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
- 2 Sam 13:12And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
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Original language
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