1 ¶ My brethren, make not unto yourselves many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.

2 F or we all offend in many things. If any man offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to govern the whole body with restraint.

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

3 B ehold, we put bits (or restraint) in the horses’ mouths to persuade them, and we govern their whole body.

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

4 B ehold also the ships, which though they are so great are driven of fierce winds, yet they are governed with a very small rudder, wherever the governor desires.

Behold 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.

5 I n the same manner, the tongue is a very small member and boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindles!

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

6 A nd the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

and 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.

7 F or every nature of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of beings in the sea may be tamed and is tamed by mankind,

For 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;

8 b ut no man can tame the tongue, which is an evil that cannot be restrained and is full of deadly poison.

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

9 W ith it we bless God, even the Father; and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

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

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

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

11 D oes a fountain send forth at the same place both sweet and bitter water?

Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?

12 C an the fig tree, my brethren, produce olive berries? or the vine, figs? In the same manner no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

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

13 ¶ Who is wise and ready among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom.

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

14 B ut if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, boast not and do not be liars against the truth.

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

15 T his wisdom is not that which descends from above, but is earthly, natural, diabolical.

This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.

16 F or where there is envy and contention, there is confusion and every perverse work.

For where emulation and strife, there disorder and every evil thing.

17 B ut the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, modest, benevolent, full of mercy and of good fruits, not judgmental, unfeigned.

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

18 A nd the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace unto those that make peace.

But fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.