James 3:3–12

³Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies. ⁴Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will. ⁵Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles! ⁶and the tongue is fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell. ⁷For every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of sea animals, is tamed and has been tamed by the human species; ⁸but the tongue can no one among men tame; it is an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison. ⁹Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after the likeness of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus. ¹¹Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter? ¹²Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water make sweet water.