Iacobi 3
1 Nolite plures magistri fieri fratres mei, scientes quoniam maius iudicium sumitis.
Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
2 In multis enim offendimus omnes. Si quis in verbo non offendit: hic perfectus est vir. potest etiam freno circumducere totum corpus.
For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.
3 Si autem equis frena in ora mittimus ad consentiendum nobis, et omne corpus illorum circumferimus.
Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
4 Et ecce naves, cum magnae sint, et a ventis validis minentur: circumferuntur autem a modico gubernaculo ubi impetus dirigentis voluerit.
Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
5 Ita et lingua modicum quidem membrum est, et magna exaltat. Ecce quantus ignis quam magnam silvam incendit!
So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
6 Et lingua ignis est, universitas iniquitatis. Lingua constituitur in membris nostris, quae maculat totum corpus, et inflammat rotam nativitatis nostrae inflammata a gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
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. (Geenna g1067)
7 Omnis enim natura bestiarum, et volucrum, et serpentium, et ceterorum domantur, et domita sunt a natura humana:
For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;
8 linguam autem nullus hominum domare potest: inquietum malum, plena veneno mortifero.
but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 In ipsa benedicimus Deum et Patrem: et in ipsa maledicimus homines, qui ad imaginem, et similitudinem Dei facti sunt.
With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.
10 Ex ipso ore procedit benedictio, et maledictio. Non oportet, fratres mei, haec ita fieri.
Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
11 Numquid fons de eodem foramine emanat dulcem, et amaram aquam?
Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
12 Numquid potest, fratres mei, ficus uvas facere, aut vitis ficus? Sic neque salsa dulcem potest facere aquam.
Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
13 Quis sapiens, et disciplinatus inter vos? Ostendat ex bona conversatione operationem suam in mansuetudine sapientiae.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
14 Quod si zelum amarum habetis, et contentiones sint in cordibus vestris: nolite gloriari, et mendaces esse adversus veritatem.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.
15 non est enim ista sapientia desursum descendens: sed terrena, animalis, diabolica.
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
16 Ubi enim zelus et contentio: ibi inconstantia, et omne opus pravum.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
17 Quae autem desursum est sapientia, primum quidem pudica est, deinde pacifica, modesta, suadibilis, bonus consentiens, plena misericordia, et fructibus bonis, iudicans sine simulatione.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 Fructus autem iustitiae, in pace seminatur, facientibus pacem.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
