James 3:8

Bible in Basic English (1941)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Rom 3:13 : 13 Their throat is like an open place of death; with their tongues they have said what is not true: the poison of snakes is under their lips:
  • Ps 140:3 : 3 Their tongues are sharp like the tongue of a snake; the poison of snakes is under their lips. (Selah.)
  • Jas 3:6 : 6 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.
  • Eccl 10:11 : 11 If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.
  • Ps 64:3-4 : 3 Who make their tongues sharp like a sword, and whose arrows are pointed, even bitter words; 4 So that in secret they may let loose their arrows at the upright, suddenly and unseen.
  • Ps 55:21 : 21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, but they were sharp swords.
  • Ps 57:4 : 4 My soul is among lions; I am stretched out among those who are on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongue is a sharp sword.
  • Ps 58:4 : 4 Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;
  • Ps 59:7 : 7 See, hate is dropping from their lips; curses are on their tongues: they say, Who gives attention to it?
  • Deut 32:33 : 33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, the cruel poison of snakes.
  • Rev 12:9 : 9 And the great dragon was forced down, the old snake, who is named the Evil One and Satan, by whom all the earth is turned from the right way; he was forced down to the earth, and his angels were forced down with him.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Jas 3:5-7
    3 verses
    85%

    5Even 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!

    6And 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.

    7For 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;

  • Rom 3:13-14
    2 verses
    74%

    13Their throat is like an open place of death; with their tongues they have said what is not true: the poison of snakes is under their lips:

    14Whose mouth is full of curses and bitter words:

  • Jas 3:9-11
    3 verses
    74%

    9With 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.

    10Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for these things to be so.

    11Does the fountain send from the same outlet sweet and bitter water?

  • 4A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.

  • Jas 3:2-3
    2 verses
    72%

    2For we all go wrong in a number of things. If a man never makes a slip in his talk, then he is a complete man and able to keep all his body in control.

    3Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies.

  • 3Their tongues are sharp like the tongue of a snake; the poison of snakes is under their lips. (Selah.)

  • 7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and false words: under his tongue are evil purposes and dark thoughts.

  • 13Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from words of deceit.

  • 10For it is said, Let the man who has a love of life, desiring to see good days, keep his tongue from evil and his lips from words of deceit:

  • 16He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.

  • 20Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.

  • 11If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.

  • 27A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.

  • 4Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;

  • 34You offspring of snakes, how are you, being evil, able to say good things? because out of the heart's store come the words of the mouth.

  • 2Purposing destruction, using deceit; your tongue is like a sharp blade.

  • 3Who make their tongues sharp like a sword, and whose arrows are pointed, even bitter words;

  • 20For the righteousness of God does not come about by the wrath of man.

  • 19You have given your mouth to evil, your tongue to words of deceit.

  • 3What punishment will he give you? what more will he do to you, you false tongue?

  • 32In the end, its bite is like that of a snake, its wound like the wound of a poison-snake.

  • 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.

  • 23He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

  • 3In the words of his mouth are evil and deceit; he has given up being wise and doing good.

  • 68%

    9For no faith may be put in their words; their inner part is nothing but evil; their throat is like an open place for the dead; smooth are the words of their tongues.

  • 18As one who is off his head sends about flaming sticks and arrows of death,

  • Job 20:12-13
    2 verses
    68%

    12Though evil-doing is sweet in his mouth, and he keeps it secretly under his tongue;

    13Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth;

  • 31The mouth of the upright man is budding with wisdom, but the twisted tongue will be cut off.

  • 2Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.

  • 68%

    19Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely.

    20The tongue of the upright man is like tested silver: the heart of the evil-doer is of little value.

  • 5For your mouth is guided by your sin, and you have taken the tongue of the false for yourself.

  • 26If a man seems to have religion and has no control over his tongue but lets himself be tricked by what is false, this man's religion is of no value.

  • 28A false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling.

  • Titus 3:2-3
    2 verses
    67%

    2To say no evil of any man, not to be fighters, to give way to others, to be gentle in behaviour to all men.

    3For in the past we were foolish, hard in heart, turned from the true way, servants of evil desires and pleasures, living in bad feeling and envy, hated and hating one another.

  • 10But these men say evil about such things as they have no knowledge of; and the things of which they have natural knowledge, like beasts without reason, are the cause of their destruction.

  • 12But these men, like beasts without reason, whose natural use is to be taken and put to death, crying out against things of which they have no knowledge, will undergo that same destruction which they are designing for others;

  • 8His tongue is an arrow causing death; the words of his mouth are deceit: he says words of peace to his neighbour, but in his heart he is waiting secretly for him.

  • 18There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.

  • 15This wisdom is not from heaven, but is of the earth and the flesh and the Evil One.

  • 8For there is a division in his mind, and he is uncertain in all his ways.

  • 8Saying true and right words, against which no protest may be made, so that he who is not on our side may be put to shame, unable to say any evil of us.