Taming the Tongue

¹cNot many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ²For dwe all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, ehe is a perfect man, fable also to bridle his whole body. ³If we put gbits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵So also the tongue is a small member, yet hit boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶And ithe tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, jstaining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,1 and set on fire by hell.2 ⁷For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, kfull of deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people lwho are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,3 these things ought not to be so. ¹¹Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹²Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Wisdom from Above

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? mBy his good conduct let him show his works nin the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have bitter ojealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵This is not pthe wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, qdemonic. ¹⁶For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷But rthe wisdom from above is first pure, then speaceable, gentle, open to reason, tfull of mercy and good fruits, uimpartial and vsincere. ¹⁸And wa harvest of righteousness xis sown in peace by those who make peace.