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.
7. For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
8. but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.