Small Spark

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Μὴnot πολλοὶmuch, great; here 'better, greater' διδάσκαλοιa teacher γίνεσθε,to come to be, be made ἀδελφοίa brother μου,I εἰδότεςI know, remember ὅτιthat μεῖζονlarge, great κρίμαa judgment, verdict, lawsuit λημψόμεθα·I receive, take

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone never stumbles in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check as well.

πολλὰmuch, great; here 'better, greater' γὰρfor πταίομενI stumble, fall, sin ἅπαντες.all, the whole εἴif τιςany one, some one ἐνin, by λόγῳa word, speech, divine utterance, analogy οὐnot πταίει,I stumble, fall, sin οὗτοςthis τέλειοςperfect, full-grown ἀνήρ,a male human being, a man δυνατὸςpowerful, able, possible χαλιναγωγῆσαιI bridle, curb καὶand, also ὅλονall, the whole, entire τὸthe σῶμα.body, flesh

We put bits in horses' mouths to make them obey us, and with them we turn the whole animal.

εἰif δὲnow, but τῶνthe ἵππωνa horse τοὺςthe χαλινοὺςa bridle εἰςinto, so that τὰthe στόματαthe mouth, speech βάλλομενI cast, throw, rush, put, place, drop εἰςinto, so that τὸthe πείθεσθαιI persuade, urge αὐτοὺςhe, his, it ἡμῖν,I καὶand, also ὅλονall, the whole, entire τὸthe σῶμαbody, flesh αὐτῶνhe, his, it μετάγομεν.I turn about, change the position of

Or look at ships. They are so large and are driven by strong winds, yet they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

ἰδοὺSee! Lo! Behold! Look! καὶand, also τὰthe πλοῖα,a ship, vessel τηλικαῦταso great ὄνταto be καὶand, also ὑπὸby, under, about ἀνέμωνthe wind σκληρῶνhard, violent, harsh, stern ἐλαυνόμενα,I drive on, propel, row μετάγεταιI turn about, change the position of ὑπὸby, under, about ἐλαχίστουleast, smallest, very little πηδαλίουthe rudder of a ship ὅπουwhere, whither ἡthe ὁρμὴa rush, violent assault τοῦthe εὐθύνοντοςI make straight, guide, steer βούλεται·I will, intend, desire

In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Think how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark!

οὕτωςthus, so, in this manner καὶand, also ἡthe γλῶσσαthe tongue, a language, nation μικρὸνlittle, small μέλοςa limb, member ἐστὶνto be καὶand, also μεγάλαlarge, great αὐχεῖ.boast ἸδοὺSee! Lo! Behold! Look! ἡλίκονof what size, how much πῦρfire, trials ἡλίκηνof what size, how much ὕληνwood, fuel ἀνάπτει·I kindle, set on fire

And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of evil set among the parts of our body. It stains the whole body, sets the whole course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

καὶand, also ἡthe γλῶσσαthe tongue, a language, nation πῦρ,fire, trials ὁthe κόσμοςthe world, universe τῆςthe ἀδικίαςunrighteousness ἡthe γλῶσσαthe tongue, a language, nation καθίσταταιI set, establish, appoint, conduct ἐνin, by τοῖςthe μέλεσινa limb, member ἡμῶν,I ἡthe σπιλοῦσαI defile, spot ὅλονall, the whole, entire τὸthe σῶμαbody, flesh καὶand, also φλογίζουσαI inflame, fire with passion τὸνthe τροχὸνa wheel, course τῆςthe γενέσεωςbirth, lineage καὶand, also φλογιζομένηI inflame, fire with passion ὑπὸby, under, about τῆςthe γεέννης.Gehenna

Every kind of animal, bird, reptile and sea creature can be tamed, and has been tamed, by human beings.

πᾶσαall, the whole, every kind of γὰρfor φύσιςnature, inherent nature θηρίωνa wild beast, animal τεand, both καὶand, also πετεινῶνa bird ἑρπετῶνa creeping creature, reptile τεand, both καὶand, also ἐναλίωνsea creature δαμάζεταιI tame, subdue καὶand, also δεδάμασταιI tame, subdue τῇthe φύσειnature, inherent nature τῇthe ἀνθρωπίνῃ·belonging to human beings, human

But the tongue no one can tame. It is an evil that never rests, full of poison that kills.

τὴνthe δὲnow, but γλῶσσανthe tongue, a language, nation οὐδεὶςno one, none, nothing δαμάσαιI tame, subdue δύναταιI am powerful, am able ἀνθρώπων·a man, one of the human race ἀκατάστατονunsettled, unstable κακόν,bad, evil μεστὴfull ἰοῦpoison, rust θανατηφόρου.death-bringing, deadly

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with the same tongue we curse human beings, who were made like God.

ἐνin, by αὐτῇhe, his, it εὐλογοῦμενI bless τὸνthe κύριονlord, Lord, master, sir καὶand, also πατέρα,father, Father, ancestor καὶand, also ἐνin, by αὐτῇhe, his, it καταρώμεθαI curse τοὺςthe ἀνθρώπουςa man, one of the human race τοὺςthe καθ’down from, against, according to, throughout, during ὁμοίωσινmaking like, likeness θεοῦGod γεγονότας·to come to be, be made

Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, it should not be like this.

ἐκout of, from τοῦthe αὐτοῦhe, his, it στόματοςthe mouth, speech ἐξέρχεταιI go out, come out εὐλογίαadulation, praise, blessing καὶand, also κατάρα.a curse, cursing οὐnot χρή,it is necessary, proper ἀδελφοίa brother μου,I ταῦταthis οὕτωςthus, so, in this manner γίνεσθαι.to come to be, be made

Does a spring pour out fresh and bitter water from the same opening?

μήτιif not, unless ἡthe πηγὴa fountain, spring, well ἐκout of, from τῆςthe αὐτῆςhe, his, it ὀπῆςa crevice, cave βρύειI cause to gush forth, send forth τὸthe γλυκὺsweet καὶand, also τὸthe πικρόν;bitter, acrid, malignant

My brothers, can a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

μὴnot δύναται,I am powerful, am able ἀδελφοίa brother μου,I συκῆa fig-tree ἐλαίαςan olive tree ποιῆσαιI do, make ἢor, than ἄμπελοςa vine σῦκα;a fig οὔτεand not, neither, nor ἁλυκὸνsalty, saltine, bitter γλυκὺsweet ποιῆσαιI do, make ὕδωρ.water

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show it by his good way of life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Τίςany one, some one σοφὸςwise καὶand, also ἐπιστήμωνskillful, experienced ἐνin, by ὑμῖν;you δειξάτωI point out, show ἐκout of, from τῆςthe καλῆςbeautiful, good, worthy ἀναστροφῆςbehavior, manner of life τὰthe ἔργαwork, labor, action, deed αὐτοῦhe, his, it ἐνin, by πραΰτητιmildness, gentleness σοφίας.wisdom

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it, and do not lie against the truth.

εἰif δὲnow, but ζῆλονeagerness, zeal, rivalry πικρὸνbitter, acrid, malignant ἔχετεI have, hold, possess καὶand, also ἐριθείανambition, rivalry ἐνin, by τῇthe καρδίᾳthe heart, inner life, intention ὑμῶν,you μὴnot κατακαυχᾶσθεI boast against καὶand, also ψεύδεσθεI lie κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during τῆςthe ἀληθείας.truth

That kind of wisdom does not come down from above. It is earthly, unspiritual and demonic.

οὐκnot ἔστινto be αὕτηthis ἡthe σοφίαwisdom ἄνωθενfrom above, from the beginning, again κατερχομένη,I come down ἀλλὰbut, except ἐπίγειος,earthly ψυχική,animal, natural, sensuous δαιμονιώδης·demon-like

For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice.

ὅπουwhere, whither γὰρfor ζῆλοςeagerness, zeal, rivalry καὶand, also ἐριθεία,ambition, rivalry ἐκεῖthere, yonder, thither ἀκαταστασίαdisturbance, upheaval, revolution καὶand, also πᾶνall, the whole, every kind of φαῦλονworthless, wicked, base πρᾶγμα.thing, matter

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

ἡthe δὲnow, but ἄνωθενfrom above, from the beginning, again σοφίαwisdom πρῶτονfirst, before μὲνtruly, indeed ἁγνήpure, chaste ἐστιν,to be ἔπειταthen, thereafter, afterwards εἰρηνική,peaceable, disposed to peace ἐπιεικής,gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable εὐπειθής,compliant μεστὴfull ἐλέουςpity, mercy καὶand, also καρπῶνfruit, result, gain ἀγαθῶν,good ἀδιάκριτος,unambiguous ἀνυπόκριτος·unfeigned, without hypocrisy

And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

καρπὸςfruit, result, gain δὲnow, but δικαιοσύνηςjustice, justness, righteousness ἐνin, by εἰρήνῃpeace, peace of mind σπείρεταιI sow, spread, scatter τοῖςthe ποιοῦσινI do, make εἰρήνην.peace, peace of mind