1 B e not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.

My Christian brothers, not many of you should become teachers. If we do wrong, it will be held against us more than other people who are not teachers.

2 F or in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

We all make many mistakes. If anyone does not make a mistake with his tongue by saying the wrong things, he is a perfect man. It shows he is able to make his body do what he wants it to do.

3 N ow if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.

We make a horse go wherever we want it to go by a small bit in its mouth. We turn its whole body by this.

4 B ehold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.

Sailing ships are driven by strong winds. But a small rudder turns a large ship whatever way the man at the wheel wants the ship to go.

5 S o the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!

The tongue is also a small part of the body, but it can speak big things. See how a very small fire can set many trees on fire.

6 A nd the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.

The tongue is a fire. It is full of wrong. It poisons the whole body. The tongue sets our whole lives on fire with a fire that comes from hell.

7 F or every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.

Men can make all kinds of animals and birds and fish and snakes do what they want them to do.

8 B ut the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison.

But no man can make his tongue say what he wants it to say. It is sinful and does not rest. It is full of poison that kills.

9 T herewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

With our tongue we give thanks to our Father in heaven. And with our tongue we speak bad words against men who are made like God.

10 o ut of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Giving thanks and speaking bad words come from the same mouth. My Christian brothers, this is not right!

11 D oth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?

Does a well of water give good water and bad water from the same place?

12 C an a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water yield sweet.

Can a fig tree give olives or can a grape-vine give figs? A well does not give both good water and bad water. Wisdom from Above

13 W ho is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.

Who among you is wise and understands? Let that one show from a good life by the things he does that he is wise and gentle.

14 B ut if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.

If you have jealousy in your heart and fight to have many things, do not be proud of it. Do not lie against the truth.

15 T his wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

This is not the kind of wisdom that comes from God. But this wisdom comes from the world and from that which is not Christian and from the devil.

16 F or where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.

Wherever you find jealousy and fighting, there will be trouble and every other kind of wrong-doing.

17 B ut the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. Then it gives peace. It is gentle and willing to obey. It is full of loving-kindness and of doing good. It has no doubts and does not pretend to be something it is not.

18 A nd the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

Those who plant seeds of peace will gather what is right and good.