The Battle for Control

1. The benefits of a wise tongue (v 1)
2. The bruises of a bad tongue (v 2)
3. The bits used to bridle the tongue (v 3)
4. The boats battered by the tongue (v 4)
5. The boasts of an ablazed tongue (v 5)

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

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

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.

4 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 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.