Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2For in many things we all stumble. If anyone does not stumble in word, the same is a mature man, able to control the whole body also. 3Indeed, we put bits into horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4Behold, 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. 5So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things.
See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! 6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of iniquity among our members. It defiles the whole body, sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Jahannam1. 7For all kinds of animals, birds, creeping things, and sea creatures are tamed, and have been tamed by mankind. 8But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our God2 and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God. 10Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and do not lie against the truth. 15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
- 3:6 Jahannam, this Arabic word is derived from Gehenna (Greek), which signifies a place of eternal punishment. The name came from the Valley of Hinnom (Ge-Hinnom) outside the walls of Jerusalem, which may have been used in ancient times as a burning pit to dispose of the city’s rubbish. ↩︎
- 3:9 God, English translation of theos. It is the Greek equivalent of elohim and eloah (Hebrew) which are related to allah (Arabic) and alaha (Syriac), all of which translate as “God,” and refer to the one true God. ↩︎