James 3
1 My fellow believers, not many of you should [desire to] become teachers [of God’s truth, because] you know [that God] will judge us [(exc)], who teach others, more severely [than he will judge other people].
Jowetena, kik joma thoth kuomu ketre mar bedo jopuonj, nikech ungʼeyo ni wan mwapuonjo nongʼadnwa bura malit moloyo ji mamoko.
2 It is true that we all in many ways do things that are wrong [MET]. But those who always [LIT] control what they say will be all that God intends/wants them to be. They will be able to control all their actions [MTY].
Wan duto wachwanyore e yore mangʼeny. Ka weche ma ngʼato wacho ok mi obed jaketho to en ngʼat malongʼo kendo onyalo chiko ringre duto mondo owinje.
3 [To illustrate], if we put [a small metal] bit into the mouth of a horse in order to cause the horse to obey us, we can cause the horse to turn [and go where we want it to] [MET].
Ka waketo ratege e dho farese mondo omi giwinjwa, to wanyalo chiko ringregi kamoro amora ma wadwaro.
4 Think also about ships. [Although] a ship may be very large and [although] it can be moved by strong winds {strong winds can move it}, by [turning] a very small (rudder/steering paddle) people can direct the ship wherever they want [it to go].
Bende wanyalo kawo yiedhi madongo kaka ranyisi. Kata obedo ni gidongo miwuoro kendo iriembogi gi yembe man-gi teko madongo, to pod ichikogi mana gi ngai matin nono mi gichom kamoro amora ma jakwangʼ yie dwaro ni gidhiye.
5 Similarly, [although] our tongues are very small, [if we do not control them], we can [harm] many people by what we proudly say [MTY]. Think [also] about how [just] a small [flame of] fire can cause a large forest (OR, a large area of brushwood) to burn.
Mano bende kaka lep en fuoni matin nono e dend dhano, to onyalo sungore miwuoro. Parie kaka pilni mach matin nono nyalo moko mach mi wangʼ bungu maduongʼ!
6 [Just like a fire damages a forest] [MET], when we say things that are evil, [we harm many people]. What we say [MTY] reveals that we are very evil. What we say contaminates/defiles everything that we think and do [PRS, MET]. [Just like a flame of fire easily] causes [the whole surrounding area] [MET] to burn, what we say [MTY] can cause [others] to want to do evil. It is the devil himself [MTY] who causes us to say evil things. (Geenna g1067)
Lep bende en mach kendo piny mopongʼ gi richo e kind fuonde duto mag ringruok. Oketho ringruok duto ka omoko mach mawangʼo ngima dhano duto mi chop en owuon bende wangʼe e Gehena. (Geenna g1067)
7 Indeed, although people are able to tame/control all kinds of wild animals, birds, reptiles and creatures that live in the water, and people have actually tamed/controlled them,
Kit le duto gi winy mafuyo gi gik mamol kaachiel gi chwech Nyasaye duto manie nam, dhano nyalo boyo kendo oseboyo,
8 no person ([on his own/by himself]) is able to control what he says [MTY]. And when people say evil things, [it shows that] they are unstable/uncontrolled and wicked [MTY]. [As] the poison [of a snake kills people] [MTY], [we harm others] [MET] by what we say.
to onge ngʼama nyalo boyo lep. En gima rach ma ok ywe mopongʼ gi kwiri marach.
9 We use our tongue to praise God, who is our Lord and Father, but we also use our same tongue to ask God to say evil things to people. [That is very wrong]! God made people like himself, [so we should speak as respectfully to others as we speak to God].
Lep achielni ema wapakogo Ruodhwa kendo Wuonwa, en bende ema wakwongʼogo ji mochwe e kit Nyasaye.
10 We praise [God], but with our same mouth we also ask for evil [things to happen to others]. My fellow believers, this should not be!
Pak kod kwongʼ wuok e dhok achielno! Jowetena, gima kamano ok onego otimre.
11 Surely bitter water and good water do not come out of the same spring! [RHQ]
Bende pi mamit gi pi makech nyalo wuok e soko achiel?
12 My fellow believers, a fig tree cannot [RHQ] produce olives. Nor can [RHQ] a grapevine produce figs. Neither can a salty spring produce good [water]. [Similarly, we should say only good things, and we should not say evil things] [MET].
Jowetena, bende yiend ngʼowu nyalo nyago zeituni? Koso mzabibu bende nyalo nyago ngʼowu? Kamano bende e kaka pi makech ok nyal lokore pi mamit.
13 If any of you thinks [RHQ] that [you are] wise and know a lot, you should always act in a good way to show people that your good actions are the result of your [being truly] wise. Being wise [helps us to act] gently [toward others].
En ngʼat mane e dieru mikwano ni riek kendo ni winjo tiend weche? Ngʼat ma kamano mondo onyis riekone kuom kit ngimane maber kendo kuom timbe motimo gi muolo mawuok kuom rieko ma en-go.
14 But if you are very [MET] jealous/unhappy when you see that someone else is succeeding, and always want to have what you want, regardless of what others want, you should not say [that you are wise, for by boasting like that], you are saying that ([God’s message/what God says about you]) is not true.
To kapo ni upando nyiego mopongʼ gi mirima, gi gombo maricho mag chopo ichlit ma un-go e chunyu, to kik usungru kuom dwarou marichogo kukwedo adiera.
15 Those who have such [attitudes are] not wise [MTY] in the way that God [wants them to be]. Instead, they are only thinking and acting like ([ungodly people/people who do not please God]). They think and act according to their own [evil] desires. They do what the demons [want them to do] (OR, they think and act as demons [do]).
Rieko machal kamano ok oa e polo, to en mar piny kendo ok okony chuny dhano, en rieko jachien.
16 [Keep in mind that] people who have such attitudes (are unruly/do not submit to authority) and [do] all kinds of evil things.
Nikech kama nyiego gi piem nitie e kama koko gi timbe maricho duto nitie.
17 But [when people] are wise [PRS] in the way that God [MTY] [wants them to be], they are pure in every way, which God considers to be very important. They also act peaceably towards [others], they (are considerate of/think about the rights and feelings of) others, they are willing to yield to [the wishes of] others, they act compassionately [toward others], and they do all kinds of good things [for others] [MET]. [How they treat others does] not depend on (others’ status/whether others are important or not), and they are sincere [in all they do].
To rieko moa e polo ok chal kamano. Mokwongo oler, kendo ohero kwe, odembore, owinjo wach, opongʼ gi kech kod olembe mabeyo, ok odew wangʼ, kendo oonge miganga.
18 Those who [act] peaceably [toward others] cause [others to also] act peaceably, with the result that they all live together [acting toward each other] in a righteous way [MET].
Jokel kwe machwoyo koth kwe kayo tim makare.
