26 If anyone thinks he is religious (A)and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's (B)religion is worthless.

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29 (A)Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give (B)grace to those who hear.

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(A)Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    (B)keep watch over the door of my lips!

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10 For

(A)“Whoever desires to love life
    and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
    and his lips from speaking deceit;

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19 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

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Let there be (A)no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, (B)which are out of place, but instead (C)let there be thanksgiving.

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31 (A)The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
    but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

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Let your speech always (A)be gracious, (B)seasoned with salt, (C)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

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19 (A)When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    (B)but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

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22 But be (A)doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

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For (A)we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, (B)he is a perfect man, (C)able also to bridle his whole body. If we put (D)bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet (E)it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And (F)the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, (G)staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:6 Or wheel of birth
  2. James 3:6 Greek Gehenna

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 (A)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person (B)be quick to hear, (C)slow to speak, (D)slow to anger;

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