James 3:1-6

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, since you know that we will be judged more severely.
2 For we all stumble in many ways; if someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who can bridle his whole body.
3 If we put a bit into a horse's mouth to make it obey us, we control its whole body as well.
4 And think of a ship - although it is huge and is driven by strong winds, yet the pilot can steer it wherever he wants with just a small rudder.
5 So too the tongue is a tiny part of the body, yet it boasts great things. See how a little fire sets a whole forest ablaze!
6 Yes, the tongue is a fire, a world of wickedness. The tongue is so placed in our body that it defiles every part of it, setting ablaze the whole of our life; and it is set on fire by Gei-Hinnom itself.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.