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

Not many should become teachers ( self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity.

2 F or we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, he a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.

For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech, he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.

3 B ehold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.

If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about.

4 B ehold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will.

Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.

5 T hus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!

Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!

6 a nd the tongue fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.

And the tongue is a fire. world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).

7 F or every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of sea animals, is tamed and has been tamed by the human species;

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature).

8 b ut the tongue can no one among men tame; an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.

But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.

9 T herewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after likeness of God.

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God’s likeness!

10 O ut of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.

Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.

11 D oes the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?

Does a fountain send forth from the same opening fresh water and bitter?

12 C an, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither salt make sweet water.

Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water.

13 W ho wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;

Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his works with the humility of true wisdom.

14 b ut if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.

15 T his is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.

This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).

16 F or where emulation and strife, there disorder and every evil thing.

For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

17 B ut the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

18 B ut fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.

And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is sown in peace by those who work for and make peace.