3 Now if 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 boasts of great things.

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among *our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our*life, and is set on fire by *hell. 7 For every *species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human *race. 8 But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.