yākūbaḥ 3
1 he mama bhrātaraḥ, śikṣakairasmābhi rgurutaradaṇḍo lapsyata iti jñātvā yūyam aneke śikṣakā mā bhavata|
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2 yataḥ sarvve vayaṁ bahuviṣayeṣu skhalāmaḥ, yaḥ kaścid vākye na skhalati sa siddhapuruṣaḥ kṛtsnaṁ vaśīkarttuṁ samarthaścāsti|
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
3 paśyata vayam aśvān vaśīkarttuṁ teṣāṁ vaktreṣu khalīnān nidhāya teṣāṁ kṛtsnaṁ śarīram anuvarttayāmaḥ|
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.
4 paśyata ye potā atīva bṛhadākārāḥ pracaṇḍavātaiśca cālitāste'pi karṇadhārasya mano'bhimatād atikṣudreṇa karṇena vāñchitaṁ sthānaṁ pratyanuvarttante|
Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.
5 tadvad rasanāpi kṣudratarāṅgaṁ santī darpavākyāni bhāṣate| paśya kīdṛṅmahāraṇyaṁ dahyate 'lpena vahninā|
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
6 rasanāpi bhaved vahniradharmmarūpapiṣṭape| asmadaṅgeṣu rasanā tādṛśaṁ santiṣṭhati sā kṛtsnaṁ dehaṁ kalaṅkayati sṛṣṭirathasya cakraṁ prajvalayati narakānalena jvalati ca| (Geenna g1067)
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 paśupakṣyurogajalacarāṇāṁ sarvveṣāṁ svabhāvo damayituṁ śakyate mānuṣikasvabhāvena damayāñcakre ca|
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
8 kintu mānavānāṁ kenāpi jihvā damayituṁ na śakyate sā na nivāryyam aniṣṭaṁ halāhalaviṣeṇa pūrṇā ca|
but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 tayā vayaṁ pitaram īśvaraṁ dhanyaṁ vadāmaḥ, tayā ceśvarasya sādṛśye sṛṣṭān mānavān śapāmaḥ|
With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
10 ekasmād vadanād dhanyavādaśāpau nirgacchataḥ| he mama bhrātaraḥ, etādṛśaṁ na karttavyaṁ|
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
11 prasravaṇaḥ kim ekasmāt chidrāt miṣṭaṁ tiktañca toyaṁ nirgamayati?
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 he mama bhrātaraḥ, uḍumbarataruḥ kiṁ jitaphalāni drākṣālatā vā kim uḍumbaraphalāni phalituṁ śaknoti? tadvad ekaḥ prasravaṇo lavaṇamiṣṭe toye nirgamayituṁ na śaknoti|
My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 yuṣmākaṁ madhye jñānī subodhaśca ka āste? tasya karmmāṇi jñānamūlakamṛdutāyuktānīti sadācārāt sa pramāṇayatu|
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 kintu yuṣmadantaḥkaraṇamadhye yadi tikterṣyā vivādecchā ca vidyate tarhi satyamatasya viruddhaṁ na ślāghadhvaṁ nacānṛtaṁ kathayata|
But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
15 tādṛśaṁ jñānam ūrddhvād āgataṁ nahi kintu pārthivaṁ śarīri bhautikañca|
Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 yato hetorīrṣyā vivādecchā ca yatra vedyete tatraiva kalahaḥ sarvvaṁ duṣkṛtañca vidyate|
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
17 kintūrddhvād āgataṁ yat jñānaṁ tat prathamaṁ śuci tataḥ paraṁ śāntaṁ kṣāntam āśusandheyaṁ dayādisatphalaiḥ paripūrṇam asandigdhaṁ niṣkapaṭañca bhavati|
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
18 śāntyācāribhiḥ śāntyā dharmmaphalaṁ ropyate|
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
