1

Do not all be teachers, my brothers, because we teachers will be judged more hardly than others.

2

For we all go wrong in a number of things. If a man never makes a slip in his talk, then he is a complete man and able to keep all his body in control.

3

Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies.

4

And again ships, though they are so great and are moved by violent winds, are turned by a very small guiding-blade, at the impulse of the man who is using it.

5

Even so the tongue is a small part of the body, but it takes credit for great things. How much wood may be lighted by a very little fire!

6

And the tongue is a fire it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell.

7

For every sort of beast and bird and every living thing on earth and in the sea has been controlled by man and is under his authority

8

But the tongue may not be controlled by man it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death.

9

With it we give praise to our Lord and Father and with it we put a curse on men who are made in God's image.

10

Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for these things to be so.

11

Does the fountain send from the same outlet sweet and bitter water?

12

Is a fig-tree able to give us olives, my brothers, or do we get figs from a vine, or sweet water from the salt sea?