Chapter 3

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that you will receive a greater judgment.

For in many things we all offend. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man, able also to lead round by a bridle the whole body.

For if we put bits into horses' mouths that they may obey us, we control their whole body also.

Behold, even the ships, great as they are, and driven by boisterous winds, are steered by a small rudder wherever the touch of the steersman pleases.

So the tongue also is a little member, but it boasts mightily. Behold, how small a fire---how great a forest it kindles!

And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, defiling the whole body, and setting on fire the course of our life, being itself set on fire by hell.

For every kind of beast and bird, and of serpents and the rest, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind;

but the tongue no man can tame---a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless God the Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made after the likeness of God.

Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.

Does the fountain send forth sweet and bitter water from the same opening?

Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a vine figs? So neither can salt water yield fresh water. True Wisdom

Who is wise and instructed among you? Let him by his good behavior show his work in the meekness of wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy and contentions in your hearts, do not glory and be liars against the truth.

This is not the wisdom that descends from above. It is earthly, sensual, devilish.

For where there is envy and contentiousness, there is instability and every wicked deed.

But the wisdom that is from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, moderate, docile, in harmony with good things, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation.

The fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace.