James 3:1-8 ▼

1 Do not, many of you, become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.

2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the entire body as well.

3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wills.

5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our existence, and is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.