James 3:6

4 Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

5 In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
KJV
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
WEB
And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.
ASV
And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
DARBY
and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.
BLB
And the tongue [is] a fire, the world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, and setting aflame the course of nature, and [itself] being set aflame by Gehenna.
ÅB
Også tungen er en ild; som en verden av urettferdighet står tungen blant våre lemmer; den smitter hele legemet og setter livets hjul i brann, og settes selv i brann av helvete.
OTB
Tungen er også en ild, en verden av urett blant kroppens deler. Den forderver hele kroppen, setter livets løp i brann, og er selv satt i brann av helvete.
B1930
Også tungen er en ild; som en verden av urettferdighet står tungen blandt våre lemmer; den smitter hele legemet og setter livets hjul i brand, og settes selv i brand av helvede.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references