3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly,
3:2 for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also.
3:3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.
3:4 It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes.
3:5 In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze.
3:6 The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna.
3:7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,
3:8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God.
3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers.
3:11 Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water?
3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.
3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.
3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
3:15 Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.
3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.
3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.