James 3:1-12 - Restraining The Tongue
1 Be ye not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive the greater judgment. 2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumble not in word, this a perfect man, able to govern by a bridle also the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they should yield to us; and we lead their whole body. 4 Behold also ships, being so great, and driven by hard winds, are led by the smallest rudder, wherever the desire of him steering should will. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, and vaunts itself. Behold, how great a wood a little fire inflames 6 (And the tongue a fire, a world of iniquity: so the tongue is placed in our members, defiling the whole body, and burning the wheel of creation; and burned by hell.
7 For every nature of beasts, and also of birds, of creeping things, and also of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the nature of man: 8 And the tongue none of men can tame; an ungovernable evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we praise the God and Father; and with it we curse men, those made according to the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same month comes forth blessing and cursing. There is no need, my brethren, for these things so to be. 11 Much less from the same aperture does a fountain bubble out sweet and bitter? 12 The fig tree, my brethren, cannot make olives, or the vine, figs: so no fountain can make salt and sweet water.