New Testament in a Year

Exhortation To Practice Christian Living

Chapter 3

Avoid Faults of the Tongue.^{[a] 1} My brethren, not many of you should become teachers, for you know that we will face a more severe judgment. ² For all of us fall short in many ways. Anyone who never makes a mistake in speech has reached perfection^[b] and is able to control every part of his body.

³ When we put a bit into a horse’s mouth to make it obey us, we also guide its entire body. ⁴ Or think of ships. Even though they are large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder on whatever course the helmsman chooses. ⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small member but its pretensions are great.

Consider how a small fire can set ablaze a great forest. ⁶ And the tongue is also a fire, a world of evil that infects the entire body. It sets afire the entire course of our existence and is itself set on fire by Gehenna.

⁷ For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by man, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.^[c]

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth flow blessings and curses. This should not be so, my brethren. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives or can a grapevine produce figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh water.

¹³ True Wisdom and Its Opposite.^[d] Who among you is wise and understanding? Prove by your good life that your works are done with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if your hearts are filled with bitter envy and selfish ambition, do not be boastful in defiance of the truth.

¹⁵ Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disharmony and every type of wickedness.

¹⁷ However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and considerate, full of mercy and good fruits, without any trace of partiality or hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who are peacemakers.