James 3:5-12

5In the same way the tongue is a small part of the body, but it can brag about doing important things. A large forest can be set on fire by a little flame.

6The tongue is that kind of flame. It is a world of evil among the parts of our bodies, and it completely contaminates our bodies. The tongue sets our lives on fire, and is itself set on fire from hell.

7People have tamed all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures.

8Yet, no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison.

9With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. Yet, with the same tongues we curse people, who were created in God’s likeness.

10Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen!

11Do clean and polluted water flow out of the same spring?

12My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? In the same way, a pool of salt water can’t produce fresh water.