James 3:4-10

New American Standard Bible 1995

⁴ Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it ^(A)boasts of great things.

^(B)See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! ⁶ And ^(C)the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which ^(D)defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our ^[a]life, and is set on fire by ^[b](E)hell. ⁷ For every ^[c]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human ^[d]race. ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of ^(F)deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless ^(G)our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, ^(H)who have been made in the likeness of God; ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.