Hold your tongue
For several years, now, I have found it very rewarding to contemplate different versions of New Testament passages [using google to arrive at Biblegateway] A sample of J.B. Phillips translation indicates how dynamic using familiar can be. Consider extracts of James 3: 2-12 – titled ‘The Danger of the Tongue’.
3:2. the man who can claim that he never says the wrong thing, can consider himself perfect, for if he can control his tongue, he can control every other part of his personality … 3:5 The human tongue is physically small, but what tremendous effects it can boast of! 3:6 A whole forest can be set ablaze by a tiny spark of fire, and the tongue is as dangerous as any fire, with vast potentialities for evil. It can poison the whole body, it can make the whole of life a blazing hell! 3:8 … no one can tame the tongue. It is and evil always liable to break out, and the poison it spreads is deadly.
Another strong NT rendition is The Passion Translation. Here vv1-12 are titled ”The Power of Your Words’.
3:2. We all fail in many areas, but especially with our words. … 3:5 .. the tongue … carries great power! Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze. 3:6 And the tongue is a fire! It can be compared to the sum total of wickedness and is the most dangerous part of our human body. It corrupts the entire body and is a hellish flame! It releases a fire that can burn throughout the course of human existence.
Well, what have you got to say about all that?
Graeme Cake
Lay Preacher, Hobart North