1: Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2: For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3: Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4: Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 5: So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. Behold how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! 6: And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. 7: For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. 8: But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9: With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. 10: Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11: Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12: Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water. 13: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his deeds done in gentleness of wisdom by his good life. 14: But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth. 15: This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16: For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18: Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
