1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind; 8 but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God. 10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

1 我的弟兄们， 你们不应该有太多人作教师， 因为知道我们作教师的将受更严厉的审判。

2 我们在许多的事上都有过错， 假如有人在言语上没有过错， 他就是完全的人， 也能够控制全身。

3 我们若把嚼环扣入马嘴， 使它们驯服， 就能驾驭它们的全身。

4 试看， 船只虽然甚大， 又被狂风催逼， 舵手只用小小的舵， 就可以随意操纵。

5 照样， 舌头虽然是个小肢体， 却会说夸大的话。试看， 星星之火， 可以燎原；

6 舌头就是火， 在我们百体中， 是个不义的世界， 能污秽全身， 把整个生命在运转中焚烧起来， 而且是被地狱之火点燃的。

7 各类飞禽、走兽、昆虫、水族， 都可以驯服， 而且都已经被人类制伏了；

8 可是没有人能够制伏舌头； 它是喋喋不休的恶物， 充满了致命的毒素。

9 我们用它来称颂我们的主和天父， 又用它来咒诅照 神的形象被造的人。

10 同一张嘴竟然又称颂主， 又咒诅人； 我的弟兄们， 这是不应该的！

11 同一泉眼里能够涌出甜水和苦水来吗？

12 我的弟兄们， 无花果树能结橄榄吗？葡萄树能长无花果吗？咸水也不能发出甜水来。

13 你们中间谁是有智慧、有见识的呢？他就应当有美好的生活， 用明智的温柔， 把自己的行为表现出来。

14 如果你们心中存着刻薄的嫉妒和自私， 就不可夸口， 也不可说谎抵挡真理。

15 这种智慧不是从天上来的， 而是属地的、属血气的和属鬼魔的。

16 因为凡有嫉妒和自私的地方， 就必有扰乱和各样的坏事。

17 至于从天上来的智慧， 首先是纯洁的， 其次是和平的， 温柔的， 谦逊的， 满有恩慈和善果， 没有偏袒， 没有虚伪。

18 这是缔造和平的人， 用和平所培植出来的义果。