3:3 我們若把嚼環放在馬嘴裡,叫牠順服,就能調動牠的全身。
3:4 看哪,船隻雖然甚大,又被大風催逼,只用小小的舵,就隨著掌舵的意思轉動。
3:5 這樣,舌頭在百體裡也是最小的,卻能說大話。看哪,最小的火能點著最大的樹林。
3:6 舌頭就是火,在我們百體中,舌頭是個罪惡的世界,能污穢全身,也能把生命的輪子點起來,並且是從地獄裡點著的。
3:4 看哪,船隻雖然甚大,又被大風催逼,只用小小的舵,就隨著掌舵的意思轉動。
3:5 這樣,舌頭在百體裡也是最小的,卻能說大話。看哪,最小的火能點著最大的樹林。
3:6 舌頭就是火,在我們百體中,舌頭是個罪惡的世界,能污穢全身,也能把生命的輪子點起來,並且是從地獄裡點著的。
3 When we put bits into the
mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or
take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong
winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5 Likewise, the tongue
is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great
forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among
the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of
one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
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舌頭雖然是身體中最小的,卻可以發出強大的作用,是因為說話用到舌頭的地方很多,以致於讓大家以為舌頭是發聲的地方,但是實際上是人的聲帶再發聲。雖然如此,沒有舌頭話是講不清楚的。
也因此,人要小心運用舌頭說話,就像中文有說:「一言可以興邦、一言可以傾城」。要興邦呢?還是傾城呢?都在於心思之間。用對心思說話,就成就美事;用錯心思說話,就貽禍人間!