Those people told God,\par ‘Leave us alone!\par God All-Powerful can’t do anything to us!’\par
James 3:5 - Easy To Read Version It is the same with our tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it boasts about doing great things. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze! American Standard Version (1901) So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! Common English Bible In the same way, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly. Think about this: A small flame can set a whole forest on fire. Catholic Public Domain Version So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Even so the tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood. |
Those people told God,\par ‘Leave us alone!\par God All-Powerful can’t do anything to us!’\par
Evil people brag about the things they want.\par And those greedy people curse God.\par In this way, the evil people show that\par they hate the Lord.\par
Those bad people have become too proud \{to listen to God\}.\par And they brag about themselves.\par
I said,\par “I will be careful about the things I say.\par I will not let my tongue cause me to sin.\par I will keep my mouth closed {\cf2\super [235]} when I am around wicked people.”\par
“The enemy said, ‘I’ll chase them and catch them. I’ll take all their riches. I’ll take it all with my sword. I’ll take everything for myself.’
But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord? Why should I obey him? Why should I let Israel go? I don’t even know who this Lord is, so I refuse to let Israel go.”
If a person speaks words without thinking, then those words can hurt like a sword. But a wise person is careful with the things he says. His words can heal those hurts.
When a wise person speaks, other people want to listen. But a foolish person speaks only foolishness.
The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. And people who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.
If a fire has no wood, then the fire will become cold. In the same way, an argument without gossip is finished.
Then the enemies of Jeremiah said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah. Surely the teaching of the law by the priest will not be lost. And the advice from the wise men will still be with us. We will still have the words of the prophets. So let us tell lies about him. That will ruin him. We will not pay attention to anything he says.”
“Son of man, {\cf2\super [233]} say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘The Lord my Master says these things:
Now, when you hear the sound of the horns, flutes, lyres, {\cf2\super [32]} sambucas, {\cf2\super [33]} harps, bagpipes, {\cf2\super [34]} and all the other musical instruments, you must bow down and worship the gold idol. If you are ready to worship the idol I have made, that will be good. But if you don’t worship it, you will be thrown very quickly into the hot furnace. Then no god will be able to save you from my power!”
It is the same with ships. A ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship. The man who controls the rudder decides where the ship will go. The ship goes where the man wants.
Those false teachers boast with words that mean nothing. They lead people into the trap \{of sin\}. They lead away people who are just beginning to come away from other people who live wrong. Those false teachers do this by using the evil things people want to do in their sinful selves.