Jake 3
1 Bandeko na ngai, bozala ebele te ya koluka kozala balakisi, pamba te boyebi malamu ete, biso balakisi, tokosambisama makasi.
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 Biso nyonso tobetaka mabaku na lolenge ebele. Moto oyo abetaka libaku te na maloba oyo ebimaka na monoko na ye azali moto ya kokoka mpe azali na makoki ya kobatela bomoto na ye nyonso.
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 Soki totiaka ebende na monoko ya mpunda, ezali mpo ete etosa biso; mpe na nzela wana, tokambaka nzoto na yango nyonso.
We put bridles into the mouths of horses so that they'll obey us, and we can direct them wherever we want.
4 Tala masuwa: atako ezali monene mpe mopepe makasi etindikaka yango, kasi mwa yenda moke nde ekambaka yango mpo ete elanda nzela oyo kapitene ya masuwa alingi komema yango.
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 Ezali mpe ndenge moko mpo na lolemo: ezali eteni moko ya moke kati na nzoto ya moto, kasi ekoki komikumisa na makambo minene penza. Tala, mwa moto moke ezikisaka zamba monene!
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 Lolemo mpe ezali moto; kati na biteni ya nzoto na biso, lolemo ezali mokili ya makambo mabe, ebebisaka nzoto mobimba. Soki ezwi moto ya lifelo, ezikisaka bomoi na biso mobimba. (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 Moto azali na makoki ya kokonza lolenge nyonso ya banyama, bandeke, banyama oyo etambolaka na libumu mpe bambisi, mpe akonza yango penza.
People have tamed all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures,
8 Kasi mpo na lolemo, moko te akoki kokonza yango: ezali penza mabe, elembaka te mpe etonda na ngenge oyo ebomaka.
but no one can tame the tongue—it's an evil thing, hard to control, full of deadly poison.
9 Kaka na lolemo yango, topambolaka Nkolo, Tata na biso, mpe tolakelaka mabe bato oyo Nzambe akela na elilingi na Ye.
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 Ezala lipamboli to elakeli mabe, nyonso ebimaka kaka na monoko moko. Bandeko na ngai, esengelaki te kozala bongo.
blessings and curses come from the same mouth! Friends, it shouldn't be this way!
11 Boni, etima moko ekoki kobimisa mayi ya peto mpe mayi ya mbindo?
Does a spring send both sweet and bitter water out of the same opening?
12 Bandeko na ngai, nzete ya figi ekoki solo kobota bambuma ya olive? Nzete ya vino ekoki solo kobota bambuma ya figi? Boni, ekoki kosalema ete etima ya mayi ya mungwa ebimisa mayi ya malamu?
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 Nani kati na bino azali moto ya bwanya mpe ya mayele? Tika ete ezaleli malamu na ye emonisa misala na yango kati na komikitisa mpe na bwanya.
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 Kasi soki mitema na bino etondi na zuwa ya bololo mpe na molimo ya koswana, wana botika komikumisa ete bozali bato ya bwanya; pamba te yango ezali solo te, ezali lokuta.
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 Bwanya ya ndenge wana ewutaka na Likolo te, kasi ezali ya mokili, ya bomoto, ya Satana.
This kind of “wisdom” doesn't come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
16 Pamba te esika oyo zuwa mpe koswana ezali, esika wana mpe mobulu ya lolenge nyonso mpe misala mabe ezalaka.
Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition you'll also find confusion and all kinds of evil practices.
17 Kasi bwanya oyo ewutaka epai ya Nzambe ezalaka nanu ya peto; bongo, ememaka kimia, boboto, boyokani, koyokela bato mawa; ebotaka bambuma ya malamu, eponaka bilongi te mpe ezalaka na lokuta te.
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 Bato oyo bayeisaka kimia balonaka kati kimia mpe babukaka mbuma ya bosembo.
Those who sow peace will harvest the peace of what is truly good and right.
