James 3
1 Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.
Bazalwane bami, abanengi benu akumelanga babe ngabafundisi ngoba liyakwazi ukuthi thina esifundisayo sizakwahlulelwa kalukhunikazi.
2 For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, he [is] a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.
Sonke siyakhubeka ngezindlela ezinengi. Nxa umuntu engakaze abelesici kulokho akutshoyo, ungumuntu opheleleyo, oyenelisayo ukuwubamba wonke umzimba wakhe.
3 Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.
Lapho sifaka amatomu emilonyeni yamabhiza ukuba asilalele, ibhiza singaliphendula lonke.
4 Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will.
Kumbe lithathe imikhumbi njengesibonelo. Lanxa imikhulu kangaka njalo iqhutshwa ngumoya olamandla, iqondiswa ngophinyana oluncane loba kungaphi lapho umtshayeli afuna ukuya khona.
5 Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!
Ngokufanayo ulimi luyisitho esincane somzimba kodwa luyazincoma kakhulu. Cabangani ngehlathi elikhulu elithungelwa yinhlansi encane yomlilo.
6 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. (Geenna g1067)
Ulimi lalo lungumlilo, umhlaba wobubi phakathi kwezitho zomzimba. Lungcolisa lonke uqobo lomuntu, luyithungele ngomlilo yonke impilo yakhe, lalo luthungelwe yisihogo somlilo. (Geenna g1067)
7 For every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of sea animals, is tamed and has been tamed by the human species;
Zonke inhlobo zezinyamazana, izinyoni, lezihuquzelayo kanye lezidalwa zasolwandle ziyathanjiswa njalo sezathanjiswa ngumuntu,
8 but the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.
kodwa akulamuntu ongathambisa ulimi, luyibubi obuyaluzelayo, lugcwele itshefu ebulalayo.
9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness of God.
Ngolimi siyayibonga iNkosi uBaba, njalo ngalo sithuka abantu abenziwa ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu.
10 Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.
Emlonyeni munye kuphuma ukubonga lokuthuka. Bazalwane bami, lokhu akufanelanga.
11 Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?
Kambe amanzi amnandi lamanzi aletswayi angagobhoza mthombo munye na?
12 Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt [water] make sweet water.
Bazalwane bami, umkhiwa ungathela ama-oliva na, kumbe ivini lithele imikhiwa na? Lomthombo oletswayi awungeke ukhuphe amanzi amnandi.
13 Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;
Ngubani ohlakaniphileyo loqedisisayo phakathi kwenu na? Kakubonakalise ngokuphila kwakhe kuhle, langezenzo ezenziwa ngokuzithoba okuvela ekuhlakanipheni.
14 but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
Kodwa nxa ligcine umhawu lokulangazela kobukhwele ezinhliziyweni zenu, lingazincomi ngakho kumbe liphike iqiniso.
15 This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.
“Ukuhlakanipha” okunjalo kakwehli kuvela ezulwini, kodwa ngokwasemhlabeni, akusikomoya, ngokwamadimoni.
16 For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.
Ngoba lapho okulomhawu khona lokutshisekela kokuzisuthisa kulapho okutholakala khona ingxabangxoza kanye lezenzo zonke ezimbi.
17 But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.
Kodwa ukuhlakanipha okuvela ezulwini kuqala ngokuhlambuluka; besekuthanda ukuthula, kulozwelo, kuyazehlisa, kugcwele isihawu lezithelo ezinhle, kakukhethi njalo kuqotho.
18 But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.
Abalamuli abahlanyela ukuthula bathola isivuno sokulunga.
