Now (A)if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well. Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it (B)boasts of great things.

(C)See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And (D)the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among [a]our body’s parts as that which (E)defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our [b]life, and is set on fire by [c](F)hell. 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. But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of (G)deadly poison. With it we bless (H)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, (I)who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both [f]fresh and bitter water? 12 (J)Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce [g]fresh.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:6 Lit our parts
  2. James 3:6 Or existence, origin
  3. James 3:6 Gr Gehenna
  4. James 3:7 Lit nature
  5. James 3:7 Lit nature
  6. James 3:11 Lit sweet
  7. James 3:12 Lit sweet

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