James 3:5
“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”
Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
Cross-References
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”
“Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”
“And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.”
“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”