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James 3:5
Even so the tongue is indeed a little member and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.
James 3:5 · Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner)
James 3:5 in other translations
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
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In context
2 For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body.
3 For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us: and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also ships, whereas they are great and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the governor willeth.
5 Even so the tongue is indeed a little member and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell.
7 For every nature of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of the rest is tamed and hath been tamed, by the nature of man.
8 But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.
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