Jam 1:26, 3:1-10 | ESV | STEP | If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart , this person’s religion is worthless .

James 1:26

26 If anyone thinks he is religious ^aand does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s ^breligion is worthless.

James 3:1-10

Taming the Tongue

1 ^cNot many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For ^dwe all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, ^ehe is a perfect man, ^fable also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put ^gbits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet ^hit boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And ⁱthe tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, ^jstaining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, ^{▼▼Or wheel of birth} and set on fire by hell. ^{▼▼Greek Gehenna} 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, ^mfull of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people ⁿwho are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12} these things ought not to be so.