UJakhobe 3
1 Lingabi ngabafundisi abanengi, bazalwane bami, lisazi ukuthi sizakwemukela isigwebo esikhulu.
Do not be eager, my brethren, for many among you to become teachers; for you know that we teachers shall undergo severer judgement.
2 Ngoba sonke siyakhubeka ezintweni ezinengi. Uba umuntu engakhubeki elizwini, lowo uyindoda epheleleyo, elamandla okukhina lomzimba wonke.
For we often stumble and fall, all of us. If there is any one who never stumbles in speech, that man has reached maturity of character and is able to curb his whole nature.
3 Khangela, sifaka amatomu emilonyeni yamabhiza ukuze asilalele, sibe sesiqondisa umzimba wonke wawo kwenye indlela.
Remember that we put the horses' bit into their mouths to make them obey us, and so we turn their whole bodies round.
4 Khangela, lemikhumbi, lanxa imikhulu kangaka njalo iqhutshwa yimimoya elamandla, iyaqondiswa kwenye indlela ngephinyana nje, lapho isifiso somtshayeli esifuna khona.
So too with ships, great as they are, and often driven along by strong gales, yet they can be steered with a very small rudder in whichever direction the caprice of the man at the helm chooses.
5 Lunjalo lolimi luyisitho esincinyane, kanti luzincoma kakhulu. Khangela, umlilo omncinyane uyatshisa izigodo ezingakanani!
In the same way the tongue is an insignificant part of the body, but it is immensely boastful. Remember how a mere spark may set a vast forest in flames.
6 Ulimi lalo lungumlilo, umhlaba wobubi; lunjalo ulimi lubekwe phakathi kwezitho zethu, lungcolisa umzimba wonke, luthungele indlela yempilo, njalo luthungelwa yisihogo. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is a fire. That world of iniquity, the tongue, is placed within us spotting and soiling our whole nature, and setting the whole round of our lives on fire, being itself set on fire by Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
7 Ngoba yonke imvelo yokubili izinyamazana lezinyoni, kokubili ezihuquzelayo lezidalwa zolwandle, iyathanjiswa njalo isithanjisiwe ngemvelo yabantu;
For brute nature under all its forms--beasts and birds, reptiles and fishes--can be subjected and kept in subjection by human nature.
8 kodwa ulimi kakulamuntu ongaluthambisa; luyibubi obungelakunqotshwa, lugcwele ubuhlungu obubulalayo.
But the tongue no man or woman is able to tame. It is an ever-busy mischief, and is full of deadly poison.
9 Ngalo siyabonga uNkulunkulu ngitsho uBaba, langalo siqalekisa abantu abenziwe ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu;
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness.
10 emlonyeni munye kuyaphuma ukubonga lenhlamba. Lezizinto kazifanelanga, bazalwane bami, zenzeke njalo.
Out of the same mouth there proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be.
11 Kambe umthombo emlonyeni munye ungagobhoza yini okumnandi lokubabayo?
In a fountain, are fresh water and bitter sent forth from the same opening?
12 Kambe, bazalwane bami, umkhiwa ungathela imihlwathi yini, loba ivini umkhiwa? Ngokunjalo kakulamthombo oveza amanzi alitshwayi lamnandi.
Can a fig-tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine yield figs? No; and neither can salt water yield sweet.
13 Ngubani ohlakaniphileyo loqedisisayo phakathi kwenu? Katshengise imisebenzi yakhe ekuziphatheni kuhle ngobumnene benhlakanipho.
Which of you is a wise and well-instructed man? Let him prove it by a right life with conduct guided by a wisely teachable spirit.
14 Kodwa uba lilomhawu obabayo lombango enhliziyweni yenu, lingazincomi liqambele amanga iqiniso.
But if in your hearts you have bitter feelings of envy and rivalry, do not speak boastfully and falsely, in defiance of the truth.
15 Lokhu kayisiyo inhlakanipho eyehla ivela phezulu, kodwa ingeyomhlaba, ngeyemvelo, eyamadimoni.
That is not the wisdom which comes down from above: it belongs to earth, to the unspiritual nature, and to evil spirits.
16 Ngoba lapho okukhona umhawu lombango, lapho kukhona isiphithiphithi laso sonke isenzo esibi.
For where envy and rivalry are, there also are unrest and every vile deed.
17 Kodwa inhlakanipho evela phezulu eyokuqala ihlanzekile, emva kwalokho ibe lokuthula, ibe mnene, ilalele, igcwele isihawu lezithelo ezinhle, kayilakubandlulula futhi ingelakuzenzisa.
The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceful, courteous, not self-willed, full of compassion and kind actions, free from favouritism and from all insincerity.
18 Lesithelo sokulunga sihlanyelwa ekuthuleni kulabo abenza ukuthula.
And peace, for those who strive for peace, is the seed of which the harvest is righteousness.
