Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(A) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire,(B) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(C) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(D)

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(E)

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Even so (A)the tongue is a little member and (B)boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And (C)the tongue is a fire, a world of [a]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it (D)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of [b]nature; and it is set on fire by [c]hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, (E)full of deadly poison.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:6 unrighteousness
  2. James 3:6 existence
  3. James 3:6 Gr. Gehenna

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a such a small fire!(A) And 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 life, and is itself set on fire by hell.[a](B) For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless[b] evil, full of deadly poison.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 3.6 Gk Gehenna
  2. 3.8 Other ancient authorities read uncontrollable