James 3
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
3 Ref lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about;
4 Ref lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel,
5 Ref so also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle!
6 Ref and the tongue `is' a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by the gehenna.
7 For every nature, both of beasts and of fowls, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and hath been subdued, by the human nature,
8 Ref and the tongue no one of men is able to subdue, `it is' an unruly evil, full of deadly poison,
9 Ref with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude of God;
Bible in Basic English (BBE)
3 Ref Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies.
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.
9 Ref With it we give praise to our Lord and Father; and with it we put a curse on men who are made in God's image.
World English Bible (WEB)
3 Ref Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
4 Ref Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
5 Ref So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
6 Ref And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.{Gehenna is a name that describes a burning Hell with rotting bodies and unclean things in it}
7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.
8 Ref But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Ref With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.