James 3:1-12 - Restraining The Tongue

¹ MY brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive a severer judgment. ² For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, he is a perfect man, and capable of reining in the whole body.

³ Behold, we put bits into the horses' mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. ⁴ Behold also the ships, though so great, and driven by tempestuous winds, are turned about by the smallest rudder, whithersoever the inclination of the pilot pleaseth. ⁵ So also the tongue is a little member, and proudly vaunts. Behold how great a pile of wood, a little fire kindleth! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: in such manner is the tongue placed among our members, that it defileth all the body, and setteth on fire the circle of nature; and is set on fire of hell.

⁷ For every species of wild beasts, and also of birds, of reptiles, and even of fishes, is tamed, and hath also been tamed by human ingenuity: ⁸ but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless God even the Farther; and with the same we curse men, though after the likeness of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth goeth forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be thus. ¹¹ Doth a fountain from the same aperture spout forth sweet water and bitter? ¹² Can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives; or a vine figs? so also can no fountain send forth salt water and sweet.