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Sirach 17: 1-15

17The Lord created human beings out of earth,
   and makes them return to it again.
² He gave them a fixed number of days,
   but granted them authority over everything on the earth.^*
³ He endowed them with strength like his own,^*
   and made them in his own image.
⁴ He put the fear of them^* in all living beings,
   and gave them dominion over beasts and birds.^*
⁶ Discretion and tongue and eyes,
   ears and a mind for thinking he gave them.
⁷ He filled them with knowledge and understanding,
   and showed them good and evil.
⁸ He put the fear of him into^* their hearts
   to show them the majesty of his works.^*
¹⁰ And they will praise his holy name,
⁹   to proclaim the grandeur of his works.
¹¹ He bestowed knowledge upon them,
   and allotted to them the law of life.^*
¹² He established with them an eternal covenant,
   and revealed to them his decrees.
¹³ Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
   and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
¹⁴ He said to them, ‘Beware of all evil.’
   And he gave commandment to each of them concerning a neighbour.
¹⁵ Their ways are always known to him;
   they will not be hid from his eyes.^*

James 3:1-10

Taming the Tongue

3Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,^* for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ²For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. ³If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. ⁴Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! ⁶And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature,^* and is itself set on fire by hell.^* ⁷For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, ⁸but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters,^* this ought not to be so.