1 My brethren, make not unto yourselves many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For we all offend in many things. If any man offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to govern the whole body with restraint.
3 Behold, we put bits (or restraint) in the horses’ mouths to persuade them, and we govern their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they are so great are driven of fierce winds, yet they are governed with a very small rudder, wherever the governor desires.
5 In the same manner, the tongue is a very small member and boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every nature of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of beings in the sea may be tamed and is tamed by mankind,