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James 3:5
Euen so the tongue is a litle member, and boasteth of great things: beholde, howe great a thing a litle fire kindleth.
James 3:5 · Geneva Bible
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 sinne all. If any man sinne not in word, he is a perfect man, and able to bridle all the body.
3 Beholde, we put bittes into the horses mouthes, that they should obey vs, and we turne about all their bodie.
4 Behold also the shippes, which though they be so great, and are driuen of fierce windes, yet are they turned about with a very small rudder, whither soeuer the gouernour listeth.
5 Euen so the tongue is a litle member, and boasteth of great things: beholde, howe great a thing a litle fire kindleth.
6 And the tongue is fire, yea, a worlde of wickednesse: so is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For the whole nature of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping things, and things of the sea is tamed, and hath bene tamed of the nature of man.
8 But the tongue can no man tame. It is an vnruly euill, full of deadly poyson.
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