Yaaqoob 3
1 Yaa obboloota ko, baayʼeen keessan barsiistota hin taʼinaa; nu warra barsiisnutti murtii cimaan akka muramu ni beektuutii.
Not many of you should become teachers, my friends, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly than others.
2 Nu hundinuu karaa baayʼeedhaan gufanna. Namni waan dubbatu keessatti hin gufanne kam iyyuu nama hirʼina hin qabnee dha; dhagna isaas guutummaatti toʼachuu dandaʼa.
We often make mistakes, every one of us. Anyone who does not make mistakes when speaking is indeed a perfect person, able to bridle their whole body as well.
3 Fardi akka nuuf ajajamuuf yoo afaan isaa luugamne dhagna isaa guutuu gara barbaanne geessuu dandeenya.
When we put bits into horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we change their course the rest of their bodies.
4 Mee doonii illee ilaalaa! Dooniin yoo akka malee guddaa taʼee bubbee jabaadhaan oofame illee namichi isa oofu batoo xinnoo isheetiin gara barbaadetti geessa.
Again, think of ships. Large as they are, and even when driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder and steered in whatever direction the man at the helm may determine.
5 Akkasuma immoo arrabni kutaa dhagnaa xinnoo dha; waan gurguddaadhaan of jaja. Bosonni hammam guddaa taʼu iyyuu qaanqee ibiddaa xinnaadhaan akka gubatu hubadhaa.
So is it with the tongue. Small as it is, it is a great boaster. Think how a tiny spark may set the largest forest ablaze!
6 Arrabni ibidda; kutaawwan dhagnaa keessattis addunyaa hamminaa ti. Inni dhagna guutuu xureessa; adeemsa uumamaattis ibidda qabsiisa; ofii isaatii immoo ibidda gahaannamiitiin gubama. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is like a spark. It is a world of unrighteousness among the parts of our body. It contaminates the whole body; it sets the whole course of our existence on fire, and is itself set on fire by the flames of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
7 Bineensonni gosa hundaa, simbirroonni, uumamawwan lafa irra looʼanii fi galaana keessa jiraatan hundinuu namaan madaqfamu; madaqfamaniirus;
For while all kinds of animals, birds and reptiles and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed by humans,
8 arraba garuu namni tokko iyyuu leenjisuu hin dandaʼu. Arrabni hamaa boqonnaa hin qabnee dha; summii nama ajjeesuunis kan guutamee dha.
no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless plague! It is charged with deadly poison!
9 Nu arrabaan Gooftaa fi Abbaa eebbifna; isumaan immoo nama bifa Waaqaatiin uumame abaarra.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made ‘in God’s likeness.’
10 Afaanuma tokko keessaa eebbii fi abaarsi baʼa. Yaa obboloota ko, wanni kun akkas taʼuu hin qabu.
From the very same mouth come blessings and curses! My friends, it is not right that this should be so.
11 Bishaan miʼaawaa fi hadhaaʼaan burqaa tokko keessaa ni baʼaa?
Does a spring give both good and bad water from the same source?
12 Yaa obboloota ko, mukni harbuu ija ejersaa naqachuu yookaan wayiniin ija harbuu naqachuu dandaʼaa? Akkasuma immoo burqaan bishaan soogiddaa bishaan miʼaawaa kennuu hin dandaʼu.
Can a fig tree, my friends, bear olives? Or a vine bear figs? No, nor can a brackish well give good water.
13 Isin keessaa ogeessii fi hubataan eenyu? Kanas inni jireenya isaa gaariidhaan, hojii ogummaa kan gad of qabuudhaan hojjetamuun haa argisiisu.
Who among you claims to be wise and intelligent? They should show that their actions are the outcome of a good life lived in the humility of true wisdom.
14 Isin garuu yoo hinaaffaa hadhaaʼaa fi hawwii ofittummaa garaa keessan keessaa qabaattan of hin jajinaa; dhugaa irrattis soba hin dubbatinaa.
But if you harbor bitter envy and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or deny the truth.
15 Ogummaan kun kan lafaa ti; kan foonii ti; kan hafuura hamaati malee kan samii irraa dhufu miti.
That is not the wisdom which comes from above; no, it is earthly, animalistic, demonic.
16 Iddoo hinaaffaa fi hawwiin ofittummaa jiru, jeequmsaa fi hojii hamminaa hundumatu jira.
For where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of bad, worthless actions.
17 Ogummaan samii irraa dhufu garuu duraan dursee qulqulluu dha; akkasumas nagaa qabeessa; garraamii dha; ajajamaa dha; kan araaraa fi ija gaariin guutamee dha; wal caalchisuu fi itti fakkeessuus of keessaa hin qabu.
But the wisdom from above is, before everything else, pure; then peace-loving, gentle, open to conviction, rich in compassion and good deeds, and free from partiality and insincerity.
18 Iji qajeelummaa warra nagaa buusaniin nagaadhaan facaafama.
Justice is the harvest peacemakers will reap from seeds sown in a spirit of peace.
