• The Tongue Is a Fire

  • 1 Do not, many of you, become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.
  • 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the entire body as well.
  • 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
  • 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wills.
  • 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
  • 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our existence, and is set on fire by hell.
  • 7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
  • 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
  • 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.
  • 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
  • 11 Does a fountain pour forth from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
  • 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can saltwater produce fresh.

  • Wisdom from Above

  • 13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom.
  • 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
  • 15 This wisdom is not coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
  • 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice.
  • 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, without doubting, without hypocrisy.
  • 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.