Jak 3
1 Frè m' yo, se pa pou anpil moun nan mitan nou kouri dèyè plas dirèktè. Paske, konnen byen: lè nou dirèktè, Bondye ap jije nou pi sevè pase lòt yo.
My friends, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will have a heavier responsibility in the judgment.
2 Nou tout nou bite nan plizyè sans. Yon moun ki pa janm bite nan pawòl li, se yon moun ki bon nèt; moun sa a kapab kontwole tout kò l' byen tou.
All of us make mistakes in many ways. Anyone who doesn't make mistakes in what they say is truly a good person who can keep the whole body under control.
3 Nou mete yon mò nan bouch chwal pou fè yo obeyi nou. Avèk sa, nou fè y ale kote nou vle.
We put bridles into the mouths of horses so that they'll obey us, and we can direct them wherever we want.
4 Se menm jan an tou ak bato. Gwo kou l' gwo, gwo van te mèt ap pouse l', se yon ti gouvènay ki dirije li. Ak gouvènay tou piti sa a, kaptenn lan mennen l'l kote l' vle.
Look at ships as well: even though they're very big and are driven along by strong winds, they're steered by a very small rudder in the direction the pilot wants to go.
5 Konsa tou ak lang moun. Piti kou li piti, li vante tèt li pou gwo bagay li ka fè. Gade ki jan yon ti flanm dife ka boule yon gwo rakbwa!
In just the same way the tongue is a very small part of the body, but it makes great boasts! Think how a big forest can be set on fire by a very small flame!
6 Enben, lang se tankou dife. Se la tout lenjistis rete. Paske se yon manm nan kò nou li ye, l'ap kontaminen tout kò a nèt. Se lanfè menm ki mete dife nan li. Apre sa, li menm pou tèt pa l', li mete dife nan tout lavi nou. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is a fire! The tongue is a world of evil among the parts of the body. It disgraces all you are as a person, and can burn down the whole of your life, since it is set on fire by Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
7 Moun ka donte tout kalite bèt, zwezo, bèt ki trennen sou vant, bèt ki nan lanmè. Li menm rive donte yo deja.
People have tamed all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures,
8 Men, pou lang lan menm, pesonn poko ka donte li. Se yon move bagay ou pa ka kontwole, li plen pwazon ki ka touye moun.
but no one can tame the tongue—it's an evil thing, hard to control, full of deadly poison.
9 Avèk lang nou, nou fè lwanj Bondye papa nou. Avèk menm lang lan, nou bay moun madichon, moun Bondye te kreye pòtre ak li.
We use the same tongue to bless our Lord and Father, as well as to curse people who are made in God's image—
10 Menm bouch la bay benediksyon, li bay madichon tou. Frè m' yo, sa pa dwe fèt konsa.
blessings and curses come from the same mouth! Friends, it shouldn't be this way!
11 Yon sous dlo pa ka bay dlo dous ak dlo sale anmenmtan.
Does a spring send both sweet and bitter water out of the same opening?
12 Frè m' yo, yon pye fig frans pa ka donnen grenn oliv. Ni yon pye rezen pa ka donnen fig frans. Dlo sale pa ka bay dlo dous non plis.
My friends, a fig tree can't produce olives, and a vine can't produce figs, any more than a salt water spring can produce fresh water!
13 Si gen nan mitan nou yon moun ki gen bon konprann, ki gen lespri, se pou l' moutre sa ak bon kondit li. Se pou l' fè sa ki byen san lògèy, men avèk bon konprann.
Who among you has wisdom and understanding? Let their good lives demonstrate what they do—doing what is right with wise kindness and consideration.
14 Men, si n'ap fè jalouzi nan kè nou, si nou kenbe moun nan kè nou, si n'ap kouri dèyè enterè pa nou, pa vante tèt nou, pa fè manti sou laverite a.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast about it and don't lie against the truth.
15 Bon konprann konsa pa soti nan Bondye, li soti nan lemonn, nan moun ak nan dyab la.
This kind of “wisdom” doesn't come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
16 Paske, kote ki gen jalouzi, kote moun ap kouri dèyè enterè pa yo, fòk gen dezòd ak tout kalite mechanste.
Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition you'll also find confusion and all kinds of evil practices.
17 Pou konmanse, moun ki gen bon konprann ki soti nan Bondye a ap fè volonte Bondye, l'ap viv byen ak tout moun, l'ap respekte tout moun, l'ap tande rezon, l'ap gen kè sansib, l'ap fè anpil anpil byen, li pa nan de fas ni nan ipokrit.
However, wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, and it also brings peace. It is kind and open to reason. It is full of mercy and produces good things. It is genuine and not hypocritical.
18 Moun k'ap chache pou lèzòm viv byen yonn ak lòt, y'ap travay ak kè poze pou yo ka rekòlte yon lavi ki dwat devan Bondye.
Those who sow peace will harvest the peace of what is truly good and right.
