1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgement. 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 amongst 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 amongst 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 LET there not be many teachers among you, my brethren, but know that a greater condemnation we incur.2 For (in) many we all offend. Every one who in word offendeth not, this is a perfect man, who is able to make subject also all his body.3 For, behold, bridles into the mouth of horses we throw that we may make them submissive to us, and their whole body we turn.4 Also the mighty ships, while the furious winds drive them, by a little wood are turned about to the region which the will of him who guideth doth contemplate.5 So also the tongue is a small member, and uplifteth itself. A little fire also burneth many forests;6 and the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, like a forest is the tongue itself among our members; it defileth all of our body, and burneth the course of our generations which run (forward) as a wheel, and kindleth also itself with fire.7 For every nature of animals, and of birds, and reptiles of the sea, and of the dry land, have been subjected to the human nature;8 but the tongue no one can subdue; this is an evil not ordered, (and) full of the poison of death.9 For by it we bless the Lord and the Father, and by it we curse men who in the likeness of Aloha were made;10 and from the same mouth go forth curses and blessings. My brethren, it is not fit that these should so be done.11 Can it be that one fountain shall send forth waters sweet and bitter?12 Or can the fig-tree, my brethren, make olives, or the vines figs? thus also salt waters cannot be made sweet.13 Who of you is wise and instructed? let him show his works in good conversations in meek wisdom.14 But if you have bitter envy among yourselves, or contention be in your hearts, be not inflated against the truth, nor lie;15 because this wisdom from above descendeth not; but is earthly, from the reasonings of the soul, and from demons.16 For where there are envy and contention, there also are tumult and every thing that is evil.17 But the wisdom that is from above is pure, and full of peace, and meekness, and obedience, and full of mercies and good fruits, and is without division, and faces accepteth not.18 But the fruits of righteousness in quietness are sown by them who make peace.