1 *Matt. 23:8;[Rom. 2:20,21;1 Tim. 1:7]Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For *1 Kgs. 8:46;Prov. 20:9;Eccles. 7:20;1 John 1:8we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, *[Matt. 12:37] he is a perfect man, *See ch. 1:26able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put *Ps. 32:9bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look 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. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet *[Ps. 12:3,4;73:8,9]it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And *Ps. 120:2-4;Prov. 16:27the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, *Matt. 15:18staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,*3:6 Or wheel of birth and set on fire by hell.*3:6 Greek Gehenna7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, *Ps. 140:3;Eccles. 10:11;Rom. 3:13full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people *See Gen. 1:26who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,*3:10 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? *ch. 2:18By his good conduct let him show his works *ch. 1:21in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter *ver. 16;Acts 5:17;Rom. 2:8;2 Cor. 12:20;Gal. 5:20;Phil. 1:17;2:3;[Rom. 13:13]jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not *ch. 1:17the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, *[1 Kgs. 22:22;2 Thess. 2:9,10;1 Tim. 4:1;Rev. 2:24]demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But *[1 Cor. 2:6,7] the wisdom from above is first pure, then *Heb. 12:11peaceable, gentle, open to reason, *[Luke 6:36] full of mercy and good fruits, *ch. 2:4(Gk.)impartial and *Rom. 12:9sincere. 18 And *Prov. 11:18;Isa. 32:17;Hos. 10:12;Amos 6:12;Phil. 1:11a harvest of righteousness *Matt. 5:9;Gal. 6:7,8is sown in peace by those who make peace.