Not many should become teachers, as they will receive a stricter judgment, for all people offend in many ways. The tongue is a small but powerful part of the body that can bring great harm or good, and it is difficult for anyone to control. It is contradictory for the same mouth to bless God and curse people, just as a fountain cannot produce both sweet and bitter water. True wisdom from above is characterized by peace, meekness, and mercy, and it produces good fruits, whereas earthly wisdom is marked by envy, contention, and depraved works.
1 My brothers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment 2 For we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around 3 For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around 4 Consider also the ships, which, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will 5 So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest 6 And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell 7 For the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature 8 But no man is able to rule over the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison 9 By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God 10 From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so 11 Does a fountain emit, out of the same opening, both sweet and bitter water 12 My brothers, can the fig tree yield grapes? Or the vine, figs? Then neither is salt water able to produce fresh water 13 Who is wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom 14 But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth 15 For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical 16 For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work 17 But within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness 18 And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace