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The Power and Danger of the Tongue

James 3:1-12

3
Chapter 3
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a greater judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 But if we put bits into the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we also direct their whole body. 4 Look, even the ships, though they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, are guided by the smallest rudder wherever the impulse of the one steering wishes. 5 In this way also the tongue is a small member and boasts greatly. See how great a fire kindles how great a forest! 6 And the tongue is fire, the world of unrighteousness. The tongue is established in our members, the one staining the whole body and setting ablaze the wheel of creation and being set ablaze by Gehenna. 7 For every nature of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea-creatures is tamed and has been tamed by the human nature. 8 But no human is able to tame the tongue; it is an unstable evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse humans, who have been made according to the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come out blessing and curse. My brothers, these things should not happen in this way. 11 Does not the same spring gush forth both the sweet and the bitter from the same opening? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree make olives, or a vine figs? Nor can salt water make sweet water.