Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,^(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged^(B) more strictly.^{(C) 2} We all stumble^(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say^(E) is perfect,^(F) able to keep their whole body in check.^(G)

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.^{(H) 4} Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(I) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(K) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(L)

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(M)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^{(N) 10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?^(O) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it^(P) by their good life, by deeds^(Q) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition^(R) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.^{(S) 15} Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven^(T) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^{(U) 16} For where you have envy and selfish ambition,^(V) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(W) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(X) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(Y) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^{(Z) 18} Peacemakers^(AA) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(AB)

Psalm 19^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The Burnt Offering

1 The Lord called to Moses^(A) and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.^(B) He said, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord,^(C) bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.^(D)

³ “‘If the offering is a burnt offering^(E) from the herd,^(F) you are to offer a male without defect.^(G) You must present it at the entrance to the tent^(H) of meeting so that it will be acceptable^(I) to the Lord. ⁴ You are to lay your hand on the head^(J) of the burnt offering,^(K) and it will be accepted^(L) on your behalf to make atonement^(M) for you. ⁵ You are to slaughter^(N) the young bull^(O) before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons^(P) the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar^(Q) at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁶ You are to skin^(R) the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.^{(S) 7} The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood^(T) on the fire. ⁸ Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat,^(U) on the wood^(V) that is burning on the altar. ⁹ You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water,^(W) and the priest is to burn all of it^(X) on the altar.^(Y) It is a burnt offering,^(Z) a food offering,^(AA) an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(AB)

¹⁰ “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep^(AC) or the goats,^(AD) you are to offer a male without defect. ¹¹ You are to slaughter it at the north side of the altar^(AE) before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar.^{(AF) 12} You are to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat,^(AG) on the wood that is burning on the altar. ¹³ You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water,^(AH) and the priest is to bring all of them and burn them^(AI) on the altar.^(AJ) It is a burnt offering,^(AK) a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

¹⁴ “‘If the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you are to offer a dove or a young pigeon.^{(AL) 15} The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head^(AM) and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.^{(AN) 16} He is to remove the crop and the feathers^[a] and throw them down east of the altar where the ashes^(AO) are. ¹⁷ He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely,^(AP) and then the priest shall burn it on the wood^(AQ) that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

The Grain Offering

2 “‘When anyone brings a grain offering^(AR) to the Lord, their offering is to be of the finest flour.^(AS) They are to pour olive oil^(AT) on it,^(AU) put incense on it^{(AV) 2} and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour^(AW) and oil, together with all the incense,^(AX) and burn this as a memorial^[b] portion^(AY) on the altar, a food offering,^(AZ) an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(BA) 3} The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;^(BB) it is a most holy^(BC) part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.

⁴ “‘If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven,^(BD) it is to consist of the finest flour: either thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in or thin loaves^(BE) made without yeast and brushed with olive oil.^{(BF) 5} If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle,^(BG) it is to be made of the finest flour mixed with oil, and without yeast. ⁶ Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. ⁷ If your grain offering is cooked in a pan,^(BH) it is to be made of the finest flour and some olive oil. ⁸ Bring the grain offering made of these things to the Lord; present it to the priest, who shall take it to the altar. ⁹ He shall take out the memorial portion^(BI) from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(BJ) 10} The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;^(BK) it is a most holy part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.^(BL)

¹¹ “‘Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast,^(BM) for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in a food offering presented to the Lord. ¹² You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of the firstfruits,^(BN) but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. ¹³ Season all your grain offerings with salt.^(BO) Do not leave the salt of the covenant^(BP) of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.

¹⁴ “‘If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits^(BQ) to the Lord, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire. ¹⁵ Put oil and incense^(BR) on it; it is a grain offering. ¹⁶ The priest shall burn the memorial portion^(BS) of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all the incense,^(BT) as a food offering presented to the Lord.^(BU)

The Fellowship Offering

3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering,^(BV) and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.^{(BW) 2} You are to lay your hand on the head^(BX) of your offering and slaughter it^(BY) at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^(BZ) Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash^(CA) the blood against the sides^(CB) of the altar.^{(CC) 3} From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs^(CD) and all the fat^(CE) that is connected to them, ⁴ both kidneys^(CF) with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. ⁵ Then Aaron’s sons^(CG) are to burn it on the altar^(CH) on top of the burnt offering^(CI) that is lying on the burning wood;^(CJ) it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(CK)

⁶ “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering^(CL) to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. ⁷ If you offer a lamb,^(CM) you are to present it before the Lord,^{(CN) 8} lay your hand on its head and slaughter it^(CO) in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. ⁹ From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering^(CP) to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, ¹⁰ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. ¹¹ The priest shall burn them on the altar^(CQ) as a food offering^(CR) presented to the Lord.^(CS)

¹² “‘If your offering is a goat,^(CT) you are to present it before the Lord, ¹³ lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash^(CU) its blood against the sides of the altar.^{(CV) 14} From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, ¹⁵ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys.^{(CW) 16} The priest shall burn them on the altar^(CX) as a food offering,^(CY) a pleasing aroma.^(CZ) All the fat^(DA) is the Lord’s.^(DB)

¹⁷ “‘This is a lasting ordinance^(DC) for the generations to come,^(DD) wherever you live:^(DE) You must not eat any fat or any blood.^(DF)’”