James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers,
my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will
be judged more strictly. 2 For we all stumble in many
ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says,
he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire
body as well. 3 And if we put bits into the mouths of
horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their
entire bodies. 4 Look at ships too: Though they are so
large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a
tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 5 So
too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has
great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a
huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! The
tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the
parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets
fire to the course of human existence—and is set on
fire by hell.
7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea
creature is subdued and has been subdued by
humankind. 8 But no human being can subdue the
tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With
it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse
people made in God’s image. 10 From the same mouth
come blessing and cursing. These things should not be
so, my brothers and sisters.11 A spring does not pour
out fresh water and bitter water from the same
opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my
brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither
can a salt water spring produce fresh water.
