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

Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

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 in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

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.

Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

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.

Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.

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!

So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

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. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by 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 animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.

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

But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless 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 our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

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 comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

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

Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?

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

Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and 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 wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of 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 and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.

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

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

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

For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

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 that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

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

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.