Taming the Tongue

1Not many of you should be teachers my brothers, knowing that we will receive greater judgment. 2For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, this one is a perfect man, able indeed to bridle the whole body.

3Now if we put bits into the mouths of the horses for them to obey us, we turn about even their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, being so great and being driven by strong winds, are turned about by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the one steering resolves.

5Thus also the tongue is a small member, and boasts exceeding things. Behold a small fire, how great a forest it kindles. 6The tongue also is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, defiling all the body, and setting on fire the course of nature, and itself being set on fire by Gehenna.

7For every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued and has been subdued by the human race, 8but no one of men is able to subdue the tongue; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, those being made according to the likeness of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceed forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11Does the spring pour forth out of the same opening both fresh and bitter? 12Is a fig tree able, my brothers, to produce olives? Or a vine, figs? Neither is a salt spring able to produce fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

13Who is wise and understanding among you; let him show his works out of the good conduct, in the humility of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and self-interest in your heart, do not boast of it and lie against the truth. 15This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and self-interest exist, there will be disorder and every evil thing.

17But the wisdom from above is indeed first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and of good fruits, impartial, sincere. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those making peace.