3:1 Don't many [of you+] be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
3:2 For in many things we all stumble. If any doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
3:3 Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
3:4 Look, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, where the impulse of the helmsman wills.
3:5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasts great things. Look, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
3:6 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 wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
3:7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind:
3:8 but the tongue no man can tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison.
3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God:
3:10 out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
3:11 Does the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter?
3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt water yield sweet.
3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you+? Let him show, by his good life, his works in meekness of wisdom.
3:14 But if you+ have bitter jealousy and faction in your+ heart, don't glory and don't lie against the truth.
3:15 This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
3:16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile action.
3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.
3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.