Sirach 51:2-6

Good News Translation

²    for you have helped me and protected me.
You have rescued me from death,
    from dangerous lies and slander.
³You helped me when no one else would;
    in your great mercy you saved me
    from the many troubles I have known:
from the glaring hatred of my enemies,
    who wanted to put an end to my life;
⁴from suffocation in oppressive smoke
    rising from fires that I did not light;
⁵from death itself;
    from vicious slander reported to the king.
⁶I was once brought face-to-face with death;

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'Sirach 51:2-6' not found for the version: New International Version.

James 3:5-12

Good News Translation

⁵So it is with the tongue: small as it is, it can boast about great things.

Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame! ⁶^(A)And the tongue is like a fire. It is a world of wrong, occupying its place in our bodies and spreading evil through our whole being. It sets on fire the entire course of our existence with the fire that comes to it from hell itself. ⁷We humans are able to tame and have tamed all other creatures—wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish. ⁸But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. ⁹^(B)We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God. ¹⁰Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen! ¹¹No spring of water pours out sweet water and bitter water from the same opening. ¹²A fig tree, my friends, cannot bear olives; a grapevine cannot bear figs, nor can a salty spring produce sweet water.

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James 3:5-12

New International Version

⁵Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(A) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶The tongue also is a fire,^(B) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(C) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(D)

⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(E)

⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^(F) ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?^(G) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.