^{4 Ref} And again ships, though they are so great and are moved by violent winds, are turned by a very small guiding-blade, at the impulse of the man who is using it.

^{5 Ref} Even so the tongue is a small part of the body, but it takes credit for great things. How much wood may be lighted by a very little fire!

^{6 Ref} And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell.

⁷ For every sort of beast and bird and every living thing on earth and in the sea has been controlled by man and is under his authority;

^{8 Ref} But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death.