The Tongue Is a Fire

3 ^(A)Do not, many of you, become teachers, ^(B)my brothers, knowing that we will receive 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 entire 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, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wills. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it ^(H)boasts of great things.

^(I)Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! ⁶ And ^(J)the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which ^(K)defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our ^[c]existence, and is set on fire by ^[d](L)hell. ⁷ For every kind of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 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 blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a fountain pour forth from the same opening ^[e]fresh and bitter water? ^12 (P)Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can saltwater produce ^[f]fresh.