The Untamable Tongue

3 My brethren, ^(A)let not many of you become teachers, ^(B)knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For ^(C)we all stumble in many things. ^(D)If anyone does not stumble in word, ^(E)he is a ^[a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ^3 [b]Indeed, ^(F)we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so ^(G)the tongue is a little member and ^(H)boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And ^(I)the tongue is a fire, a world of ^[c]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it ^(J)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of ^[d]nature; and it is set on fire by ^[e]hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, ^(K)full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made ^(L)in the ^[f]similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

^25 (A)And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ^(B)ashamed.

¹⁶ You shall not go about as a ^(A)talebearer among your people; nor shall you ^(B)take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

³² Anyone who ^(A)speaks a word against the Son of Man, ^(B)it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Known by Its Fruit^(C)

³³ “Either make the tree good and ^(D)its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. ^34 (E)Brood^[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? ^(F)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure ^[b]of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

^5 (A)Walk in ^(B)wisdom toward those who are outside, ^(C)redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be ^(D)with grace, ^(E)seasoned with salt, ^(F)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.