^aDo not become teachers in large numbers, ^bmy brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a ¹stricter judgment. 2 For we all ^astumble in many ways. ^bIf anyone does not stumble in ¹what he says, he is a ^cperfect man, able to ^2drein in the whole body as well. 3 Now ^aif we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well. 4 Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it ^aboasts of great things.

^bSee how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And ^athe tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among ¹our body’s parts as that which ^bdefiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our ²life, and is set on fire by ^3chell. 7 For every ¹species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human ²race. 8 But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of ^adeadly poison. 9 With it we bless ^aour Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, ^bwho have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both ¹fresh and bitter water? 12 ^aCan a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce ¹fresh.

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? ^aLet him show by his ^bgood behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter ^ajealousy and ¹selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against ^bthe truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down ^afrom above, but is ^bearthly, ^1cnatural, ^ddemonic. 16 For where ^ajealousy and ¹selfish ambition exist, ²there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom ^afrom above is first ^bpure, then ^cpeace-loving, ^dgentle, ¹reasonable, ^efull of mercy and good fruits, ^2fimpartial, free of ^ghypocrisy. 18 And the ^afruit of righteousness is sown in peace ¹by those who make peace.

^aLet not many of you become teachers, ^bmy brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a ¹stricter judgment. 2 For we all ^astumble in many ways. ^bIf anyone does not stumble in ¹what he says, he is a ^cperfect man, able to ^dbridle the whole body as well. 3 Now ^aif we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it ^aboasts of great things.

^bSee how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And ^athe tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which ^bdefiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our ¹life, and is set on fire by ^2chell. 7 For every ¹species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human ²race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of ^adeadly poison. 9 With it we bless ^aour Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, ^bwho have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both ¹fresh and bitter water? 12 ^aCan a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce ¹fresh.

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? ^aLet him show by his ^bgood behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter ^ajealousy and ¹selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against ^bthe truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down ^afrom above, but is ^bearthly, ^1cnatural, ^ddemonic. 16 For where ^ajealousy and ¹selfish ambition exist, ²there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom ^afrom above is first ^bpure, then ^cpeaceable, ^dgentle, ¹reasonable, ^efull of mercy and good fruits, ^funwavering, without ^ghypocrisy. 18 And the ^1aseed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace ²by those who make peace.

^aNot many of you should become teachers serving in an official teaching capacity, ^bmy brothers and sisters, for you know that we who are teachers will ¹be judged by a higher standard because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly. 2 For we all ^astumble and sin in many ways. ^bIf anyone does not stumble in what he says never saying the wrong thing, he is ^ca perfect man fully developed in character, without serious flaws, able to ^dbridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature taming his human faults and weaknesses. 3 Now ^aif we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. 4 And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. 5 In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it ^aboasts of great things.

^bSee by comparison how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark! 6 And ^athe tongue is in a sense a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which ^bcontaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life the cycle of man’s existence, and is itself set on fire by ^1chell (Gehenna) . 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil undisciplined, unstable, full of ^adeadly poison. 9 With it we bless ^aour Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, ^bwho have been made in the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both ¹fresh and bitter water? 12 ^aCan a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce ¹fresh.

13 Who among you is wise and intelligent? ^aLet him by his ^bgood conduct show his good deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter ^ajealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and as a result be in defiance of ^bthe truth. 15 This superficial wisdom is not that which comes down ^afrom above, but is ^bearthly (secular) , ^cnatural (unspiritual) , even ^ddemonic. 16 For where ^ajealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder unrest, rebellion and every evil thing and morally degrading practice. 17 But the wisdom ^afrom above is first ^bpure morally and spiritually undefiled, then ^cpeace-loving courteous, considerate, ^dgentle, reasonable and willing to listen, ^efull of compassion and good fruits. It is ^funwavering, without self-righteous ^ghypocrisy and self-serving guile. 18 And the ^aseed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals.