Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small rudder, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth of great things: [a]behold, how great a thing a little fire kindleth.

And the tongue is fire, yea, a [b]world of wickedness: so is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and [c]setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:5 On the contrary part he showeth how great discommodities arise by the intemperance of the tongue, throughout the whole world, to the end that men may so much the more diligently give themselves to moderate it.
  2. James 3:6 An heap of all mischiefs.
  3. James 3:6 It is able to set the whole world on fire.

Or 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. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(A) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire,(B) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(C) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(D)

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