Ver 1.
Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will
receive heavier judgment.
Ver 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.
Ver 3.
Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey
us, and we guide their whole body.
Ver 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.
Ver 5.
So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See
how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
Ver 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.
Ver 7.
For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is
tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
Ver 8.
but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of
deadly poison.
Ver 9.
With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who
are made in the image of God.
Ver 10.
Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers,
these things ought not to be so.
Ver 11.
Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter
water?
Ver 12.
Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no
spring yields both salt water and fresh water.