1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will
receive heavier judgment. 2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone
doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole
body also. 3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may
obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4 Behold, the ships also, though
they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very
small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 5 So the tongue is also a little
member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large
forest! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our
members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the
course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.*1 7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the
sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But nobody can tame the
tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless
our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of
God. 10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My
brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send out from
the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers,
yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh
water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good
conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if
you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast
and don’t lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes
down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16 For where
jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle,
reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without
hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who
make peace.
1 Gehenna is a name
that describes a burning Hell with rotting bodies and unclean things in
it
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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