¹ Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

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

³ Now if¹ we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we guide their whole body.

1. M TR read "Behold" instead of "Now if"

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 hell.¹

1. Greek: "Gehenna"

⁷ For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.

⁸ But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless¹ evil, full of deadly poison.

1. M TR read "uncontrollable" instead of "restless"

⁹ With it we bless our Lord¹ and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

1. M TR read "God" instead of "Lord"

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth comes forth 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? Nor is salt water able to produce sweet¹.

1. M TR read "Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water" instead of "Nor is salt water able to produce sweet"

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, do not boast and do not 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,¹ without hypocrisy.

1. M TR add "and"

¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.