James 3:2–12

²For ^cin many things we ^doffend all. ^eIf any man ^doffend not in word, ^fthe same is a ^gperfect man, and able also ^hto bridle the whole body. ³Behold, ⁱwe put ^hbits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴Behold 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. ⁵Even so the tongue is a little member, and ^kboasteth great things. Behold, how great ^||a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶And ^lthe tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that ^mit defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the ^†course of nature; and ⁿit is set on fire of ^ohell. ⁷For every ^†kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of ^†mankind: ⁸But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, ^pfull of deadly poison. ⁹Therewith bless we ^qGod, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, ^rwhich are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. ¹¹Doth a fountain send forth at the same ^||place sweet water and bitter? ¹²Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.