The Vanity of Life.

For the choir director, for ^[a]Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

² For we all ^(A)stumble in many ways. ^(B)If anyone does not stumble in ^[a]what he says, he is a ^(C)perfect man, able to ^(D)bridle the whole body as well. ³ Now ^(E)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it ^(F)boasts of great things.

^(G)See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! ⁶ And ^(H)the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which ^(I)defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our ^[b]life, and is set on fire by ^[c](J)hell. ⁷ For every ^[d]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human ^[e]race. ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of ^(K)deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless ^(L)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, ^(M)who have been made in the likeness of God; ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. ¹¹ Does a fountain send out from the same opening both ^[f]fresh and bitter water? ^12 (N)Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce ^[g]fresh.