|[[Jas 3:1 ]] Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

|[[Jas 3:2 ]] For all of us make many mistakes <ref>{{s|offend}}</ref>. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect <ref>{{s|perfect }}</ref>, able to keep the whole body in check <ref>{{s|'in check '}}</ref> with a bridle <ref>{{s|bridle}}</ref>.

|[[Jas 3:3 ]] If we put bits <ref>{{s|bits }}</ref> into the mouths <ref>{{s|mouths }}</ref> of horses <ref>{{s|horses }}</ref> to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.

|[[Jas 3:4 ]] Or look at ships <ref>{{s|ships }}</ref>: though they are so large that it takes strong winds <ref>{{s|,strong wind,}}</ref> to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder <ref>{{s|rudder }}</ref> wherever the will of the pilot <ref>{{s|pilot }}</ref> directs.

|[[Jas 3:5 ]] So also the tongue <ref>{{s|tongue }}</ref> is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest <ref>{{s|forest }}</ref> is set ablaze <ref>{{s|ablaze }}</ref> by a small fire <ref>{{s|,small fire,}}</ref>!

|[[Jas 3:6 ]] And the tongue <ref>{{s|tongue }}</ref> is a fire <ref>{{s|fire }}</ref>. The tongue is placed among our members <ref>{{s|members }}</ref> as a world <ref>{{s|world }}</ref> of iniquity <ref>{{s|iniquity }}</ref>; it stains <ref>{{s|fire }}</ref> the whole body <ref>{{s|,whole body,}}</ref>, sets on fire <ref>{{s|fire }}</ref> the cycle of nature <ref>{{s|,cycle of nature,}}</ref>, and is itself set on fire <ref>{{s|fire }}</ref> by hell <ref>{{s|hell }}</ref>.

|[[Jas 3:7 ]] For every species <ref>{{s|kind}}</ref> of beast <ref>{{s|beast }}</ref> and bird <ref>{{s|bird }}</ref>, of reptile <ref>{{s|reptile }}</ref> and sea creature <ref>{{s|'sea creature'}}</ref>, can be tamed <ref>{{s|tamed }}</ref> and has been tamed <ref>{{s|tame }}</ref> by the human species,

|[[Jas 3:8 ]] but no one can tame <ref>{{s|tame }}</ref> the tongue <ref>{{s|tongue }}</ref>--a restless evil, full of deadly poison <ref>{{s|'deadly poison'}}</ref>.

|[[Jas 3:9 ]] With it we bless <ref>{{s|bless }}</ref> the Lord and Father, and with it we curse <ref>{{s|curse }}</ref> those who are made in the likeness <ref>{{s|likeness}}</ref> of God.

|[[Jas 3:10 ]] From the same mouth <ref>{{s|mouth }}</ref> come blessing <ref>{{s|blessing }}</ref> and cursing <ref>{{s|cursing }}</ref>. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.

|[[Jas 3:11 ]] Does a spring <ref>{{s|bridle}}</ref> pour forth from the same opening both fresh <ref>{{s|'fresh water'}}</ref> and brackish <ref>{{s|'brackish water ' }}</ref> water <ref>{{s|water }}</ref>?

|[[Jas 3:12 ]] Can a fig tree <ref>{{s|'fig tree'}}</ref>, my brothers and sisters, yield olives <ref>{{s|olives }}</ref>, or a grapevine <ref>{{s|grapevine }}</ref> figs <ref>{{s|figs }}</ref>? No more can salt water <ref>{{s|'salt water'}}</ref> yield fresh <ref>{{s|'fresh water'}}</ref>.