2 We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can control their whole bodies.
4 Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants.
5 It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it brags about great things.A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame.
6 And the tongue is like a fire. It is a whole world of evil among the parts of our bodies. The tongue spreads its evil through the whole body. The tongue is set on fire by hell, and it starts a fire that influences all of life.
7 People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them,
8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil and full of deadly poison.