⁶ Do not let your ^(D)mouth cause your flesh to sin, ^(E)nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your ^[a]excuse and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But ^(F)fear God.

² For ^(A)we all stumble in many things. ^(B)If anyone does not stumble in word, ^(C)he is a ^[a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ^3 [b]Indeed, ^(D)we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ 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. ⁵ Even so ^(E)the tongue is a little member and ^(F)boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And ^(G)the tongue is a fire, a world of ^[c]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it ^(H)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of ^[d]nature; and it is set on fire by ^[e]hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, ^(I)full of deadly poison.