1Many of you should not be teachers, my brothers. You know that we will receive a heavier stricter judgment. 2We all stumble in many things. If any do not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to restrain control the whole body. 3We put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us. We guide their whole bodies. 4Look at ships. They are large and are driven by rough winds. Yet a very small rudder can control them, wherever the captain wills. 5The tongue also is a little member. It boasts great things. Consider how great a forest fire a small fire kindles! 6The tongue is like fire, the place of iniquity among our members. It defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of our life. It is set ablaze like the ever-burning fires in the Valley of Hinnom Greek: Gehenna: symbolic of total destruction. 7Every kind of beast and bird, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. 8But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil. It is full of deadly poison. 9We bless Jehovah, the Father, with it. (Psalm 34:1) Then we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth! My brothers, these things should not be. 11Does the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water yield sweet. 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his works are from meekness because of wisdom. 14If you have bitter jealousy envy and greedy ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and lie against the truth. 15This wisdom is not a wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. 16For where jealousy and selfishness are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, without discord partiality, without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.