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3:1  Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
3:2  To be sure, we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a fully mature man, able to bridle his whole body as well.
3:3  If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they will obey us, we also guide the whole animal.
3:4  And consider ships: Although they are very big and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot wants to go.
3:5  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it also boasts great things. Consider how a little flame can set a large forest on fire!
3:6  And the tongue is a fire. It is set among the parts of our body as a world of unrighteousness that stains the whole body, sets the whole course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.
3:7  Indeed, every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is being tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
3:8  But no one is able to tame the human tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3:9  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who are made in the likeness of God.
3:10  Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way.
3:11  A spring does not pour out both fresh and bitter water from the same opening, does it?
3:12  Can a fig tree bear olives, my brothers, or can a grapevine produce figs? A salt spring cannot produce fresh water either.
3:13  Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good way of living show that he does things in wise humility.
3:14  But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie, contrary to the truth.
3:15  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but it is worldly, unspiritual, and demonic.
3:16  In fact, where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and every bad practice.
3:17  But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then also peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere.
3:18  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who practice peace.