3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. |
3:2 For we all stumble in many ways If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he becomes a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. |
3:3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. |
3:4 Look at the ships also, though they look so great and receive propulsion by strong winds, still receive direction by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. |
3:5 So we also consider the tongue a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things See how a small fire sets a great forest! |
3:6 And the tongue resembles a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue rests among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and becomes ignited by hell. |
3:7 The human race has tamed every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea. |
3:8 But no one can tame the tongue; it contains restless evil and full of deadly poison. |
3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, whom God has made in His likeness. |
3:10 from the same mouth comes both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to occur in this fashion. |
3:11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? |
3:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. |
3:13 Who among you claims wisdom and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. |
3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not demonstrate arrogance and so lie against the truth. |
3:15 This wisdom does not come down from above, but demonstrates earthly, natural, and demonic qualities. |
3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, disorder and every evil thing exists. |
3:17 But the wisdom from above demonstrates purity, peace, gentleness, reason, fullness of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. |
3:18 Those who make peace will sow the seed whose fruit we ascertain as righteousness sown in peace. |