[a]Indeed, (A)we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so (B)the tongue is a little member and (C)boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And (D)the tongue is a fire, a world of [b]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it (E)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of [c]nature; and it is set on fire by [d]hell.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:3 NU Now if
  2. James 3:6 unrighteousness
  3. James 3:6 existence
  4. James 3:6 Gr. Gehenna

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(A) 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. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(B) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire,(C) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(D) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(E)

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