1 ^aNot many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 ^bFor we all ^cstumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to ^dbridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it ^eboasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a ^ffire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, ^gstaining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,¹ and set on fire by hell.² 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, ^hfull of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are ⁱmade in the likeness of God. 10 ^jFrom the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,³ these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 ^kCan a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.