Jam 3:2-12 | NASB1995 | STEP | For we all stumble in many ways . If anyone does not stumble in what he says , he is a perfect man , able to bridle 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 ^ebridle the whole body as well. 3 Now ^fif we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it ^gboasts of great things.

^hSee how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And ⁱthe tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which ^jdefiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our ^{▼▼ Or existence, origin}life, and is set on fire by ^{▼▼ Gr Gehenna
,} ^mhell. 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 can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of ^pdeadly poison. 9 With it we bless ^q our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, ^rwho have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both ^{▼▼ Lit sweet}fresh and bitter water? 12 ^tCan a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce ^{▼▼ V 11, note 1}fresh.