| 1 | My brothers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment. |
| 2 | For we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around. |
| 3 | For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around. |
| 4 | Consider also the ships, which, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will. |
| 5 | So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest. |
| 6 | And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell. |
| 7 | For the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature. |
| 8 | But no man is able to rule over the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison. |
| 9 | By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God. |
| 10 | From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so! |
| 11 | Does a fountain emit, out of the same opening, both sweet and bitter water? |
| 12 | My brothers, can the fig tree yield grapes? Or the vine, figs? Then neither is salt water able to produce fresh water. |
| 13 | Who is wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom. |
| 14 | But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth. |
| 15 | For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical. |
| 16 | For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work. |
| 17 | But within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness. |
| 18 | And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace. |
