| 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. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! |
| 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 by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. |
| 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. |
