Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.
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Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2 For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
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We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
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When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4 Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
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Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5 So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
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Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.
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The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind,
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All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
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but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.
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With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.
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Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish?
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Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
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My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.