1. My brothers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment.
2. For we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around.
3. For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around.
4. Consider also the ships, which, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will.
5. So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest.
6. And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell.