The Tongue Is a Fire

3 ^(A)Let not many of you become teachers, ^(B)my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a ^[a]stricter judgment. ² For we all ^(C)stumble in many ways. ^(D)If anyone does not stumble in ^[b]what he says, he is a ^(E)perfect man, able to ^(F)bridle the whole body as well. ³ Now ^(G)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it ^(H)boasts of great things.

^(I)See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! ⁶ And ^(J)the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which ^(K)defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our ^[c]life, and is set on fire by ^[d](L)hell. ⁷ For every ^[e]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human ^[f]race. ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of ^(M)deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless ^(N)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, ^(O)who have been made in the likeness of God; ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. ¹¹ Does a fountain send out from the same opening both ^[g]fresh and bitter water? ^12 (P)Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce ^[h]fresh.

Wisdom from Above

¹³ Who among you is wise and understanding? ^(Q)Let him show by his ^(R)good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter ^(S)jealousy and ^[i]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against ^(T)the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down ^(U)from above, but is ^(V)earthly, ^[j](W)natural, ^(X)demonic. ¹⁶ For where ^(Y)jealousy and ^[k]selfish ambition exist, ^[l]there is disorder and every evil thing. ¹⁷ But the wisdom ^(Z)from above is first ^(AA)pure, then ^(AB)peaceable, ^(AC)gentle, ^[m]reasonable, ^(AD)full of mercy and good fruits, ^(AE)unwavering, without ^(AF)hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the ^[n](AG)seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace ^[o]by those who make peace.

Things to Avoid

4 ^[a]What is the source of quarrels and ^(A)conflicts among you? ^[b]Is not the source your pleasures that wage ^(B)war in your members? ² You lust and do not have; so you ^(C)commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and ^(D)do not receive, because you ask ^[c]with wrong motives, so that you may spend it ^[d]on your pleasures. ⁴ You ^(E)adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with ^(F)the world is ^(G)hostility toward God? ^(H)Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture ^(I)speaks to no purpose: “^[e]He ^[f]jealously desires ^(J)the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? ⁶ But ^(K)He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “^(L)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ^7 (M)Submit therefore to God. ^(N)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ^8 (O)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ^(P)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and ^(Q)purify your hearts, you ^(R)double-minded. ^9 (S)Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. ^10 (T)Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

^11 (U)Do not speak against one another, ^(V)brethren. He who speaks against a brother or ^(W)judges his brother, speaks against ^(X)the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not ^(Y)a doer of the law but a judge of it. ¹² There is only one ^(Z)Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is ^(AA)able to save and to destroy; but ^(AB)who are you who judge your neighbor?

^13 (AC)Come now, you who say, “^(AD)Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” ^14 [g]Yet you do not know ^[h]what your life will be like tomorrow. ^(AE)You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ^15 [i]Instead, you ought to say, “^(AF)If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” ¹⁶ But as it is, you boast in your ^[j]arrogance; ^(AG)all such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ Therefore, ^(AH)to one who knows the ^[k]right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.