Behold also ships: although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wishes. So also the tongue is a small member of the body[a] and boasts great things. Behold how small a fire sets ablaze how great a forest! And the tongue is a fire! The world of unrighteousness,[b] the tongue, is set among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire the course of human existence[c], being set on fire by hell.

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Notas al pie

  1. James 3:5 The words “of the body” are not in the Greek text but are supplied for clarity
  2. James 3:6 Or “a fire, the world of unrighteousness! The tongue is set among our members”
  3. James 3:6 Literally “the wheel of origin”

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.(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)

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