Jam 3:2-12 | NASB2020 | STEP | For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says , he is a perfect man , able to rein in the whole body as well .

James 3:2-12

2 For we all ^astumble in many ways. ^bIf anyone does not stumble in ^{▼▼Lit word}what he says, he is a ^dperfect man, able to ^{▼▼Or hold in check
,} ^frein in the whole body as well. 3 Now ^gif we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well. 4 Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it ^hboasts of great things.

ⁱSee how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And ^jthe tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among ^{▼▼Lit our parts}our body’s parts as that which ^ldefiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our ^{▼▼Or existence, origin}life, and is set on fire by ^{▼▼Gr Gehenna
,} ^ohell. 7 For every ^{▼▼Lit nature}species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human ^{▼▼Lit nature}race. 8 But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of ^rdeadly poison. 9 With it we bless ^sour Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, ^twho have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both ^{▼▼Lit sweet}fresh and bitter water? 12 ^vCan a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce ^{▼▼Lit sweet}fresh.