3Not many of you should become teachers,^e my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged^f more strictly.^g ²We all stumble^h in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they sayⁱ is perfect,^j able to keep their whole body in check.^k

³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.^l ⁴Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^m Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶The tongue also is a fire,ⁿ a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^o sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^p

⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^q

Read in Logos

James 3:5: So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

Cross references

eSee Eph 4:11
fSee Mt 7:1
g Ro 2:21
h 1 Ki 8:46; Ro 3:9–20; Jas 2:10; 1 Jn 1:8
i Ps 39:1; Pr 10:19; 1 Pe 3:10
jSee Mt 12:37
k Jas 1:26
l Ps 32:9
m Ps 12:3, 4; 73:8, 9
n Pr 16:27
o Mt 15:11, 18, 19
pSee Mt 5:22
q Ps 140:3; Ro 3:13