1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.

2For we all stumble in many matters. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the entire body.

3Look, we put bits in the mouths of horses, for them to obey us, and we turn their body.

4Look at the ships too: although they are so big and are driven by strong winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot intends.

5So too the tongue is a little member, yet boasts greatly. See how a little fire kindles a great forest!

6And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. Among our members the tongue is set, the one defiling the entire body, and setting on fire the wheel of life, and it is set on fire by Gehenna.

7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

8But no man is able to tame the tongue. It is unruly, evil, filled with deadly poison.

9With it we bless our Elohim and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of Elohim.

10Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be so.

11Does the fountain send forth the sweet and the bitter from the same opening?

12My brothers, is a fig tree able to bear olives, or a grapevine figs? So neither is a fountain able to make salt and sweet water.

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom.

14But if you have bitter jealousy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast against and lie against the truth.

15This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

16For where jealousy and self-seeking are, there is confusion and every foul deed.

17But the wisdom from above is first clean, then peaceable, gentle, ready to obey, filled with compassion and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

18And the fruit of righteousnessisa sown in peace by those who make peace.