yākūbaḥ 3
1 he mama bhrātaraḥ, śikṣakairasmābhi rgurutaradaṇḍo lapsyata iti jñātvā yūyam aneke śikṣakā mā bhavata|
Do not become many teachers, my brothers, because you know well that we teachers shall be judged by a severer standard than others.
2 yataḥ sarvve vayaṁ bahuviṣayeṣu skhalāmaḥ, yaḥ kaścid vākye na skhalati sa siddhapuruṣaḥ kṛtsnaṁ vaśīkarttuṁ samarthaścāsti|
For in many respects we often stumble. If any man never stumbles in speech, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
3 paśyata vayam aśvān vaśīkarttuṁ teṣāṁ vaktreṣu khalīnān nidhāya teṣāṁ kṛtsnaṁ śarīram anuvarttayāmaḥ|
When we put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we control their whole body also.
4 paśyata ye potā atīva bṛhadākārāḥ pracaṇḍavātaiśca cālitāste'pi karṇadhārasya mano'bhimatād atikṣudreṇa karṇena vāñchitaṁ sthānaṁ pratyanuvarttante|
Look at the ships too, though they are so large, even when driven by fierce winds they are turned by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the helmsman wills.
5 tadvad rasanāpi kṣudratarāṅgaṁ santī darpavākyāni bhāṣate| paśya kīdṛṅmahāraṇyaṁ dahyate 'lpena vahninā|
So also the tongue is a small member and makes great boasts. Behold, how great a forest is set on fire by a little spark!
6 rasanāpi bhaved vahniradharmmarūpapiṣṭape| asmadaṅgeṣu rasanā tādṛśaṁ santiṣṭhati sā kṛtsnaṁ dehaṁ kalaṅkayati sṛṣṭirathasya cakraṁ prajvalayati narakānalena jvalati ca| (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is a fire; it is a very world of iniquity among our members, defiling the whole body, and setting on fire the wheel of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 paśupakṣyurogajalacarāṇāṁ sarvveṣāṁ svabhāvo damayituṁ śakyate mānuṣikasvabhāvena damayāñcakre ca|
For while every kind of beast and bird, and of reptiles and sea- creatures are tamable, and actually have been tamed by mankind,
8 kintu mānavānāṁ kenāpi jihvā damayituṁ na śakyate sā na nivāryyam aniṣṭaṁ halāhalaviṣeṇa pūrṇā ca|
no man can tame the tongue, restless evil that it is, full of deadly poison.
9 tayā vayaṁ pitaram īśvaraṁ dhanyaṁ vadāmaḥ, tayā ceśvarasya sādṛśye sṛṣṭān mānavān śapāmaḥ|
With it we continually bless our Lord and Father, and with it we are accustomed to curse men made in the image of God.
10 ekasmād vadanād dhanyavādaśāpau nirgacchataḥ| he mama bhrātaraḥ, etādṛśaṁ na karttavyaṁ|
From out of the same mouth pour forth blessings and cursings! My brothers, this ought not to be so.
11 prasravaṇaḥ kim ekasmāt chidrāt miṣṭaṁ tiktañca toyaṁ nirgamayati?
Does a spring pour forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?
12 he mama bhrātaraḥ, uḍumbarataruḥ kiṁ jitaphalāni drākṣālatā vā kim uḍumbaraphalāni phalituṁ śaknoti? tadvad ekaḥ prasravaṇo lavaṇamiṣṭe toye nirgamayituṁ na śaknoti|
Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives; or a grape-vine, figs? No more can salt water yield fresh water.
13 yuṣmākaṁ madhye jñānī subodhaśca ka āste? tasya karmmāṇi jñānamūlakamṛdutāyuktānīti sadācārāt sa pramāṇayatu|
Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him show his deeds by his good life, in the meekness of wisdom.
14 kintu yuṣmadantaḥkaraṇamadhye yadi tikterṣyā vivādecchā ca vidyate tarhi satyamatasya viruddhaṁ na ślāghadhvaṁ nacānṛtaṁ kathayata|
But if you have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, do not be boasting of that, and be false to the truth.
15 tādṛśaṁ jñānam ūrddhvād āgataṁ nahi kintu pārthivaṁ śarīri bhautikañca|
Such wisdom is not that which is descending from on high, but is earthly, sensual, demonlike.
16 yato hetorīrṣyā vivādecchā ca yatra vedyete tatraiva kalahaḥ sarvvaṁ duṣkṛtañca vidyate|
For wherever jealousy and faction exist, there is confusion and every evil deed.
17 kintūrddhvād āgataṁ yat jñānaṁ tat prathamaṁ śuci tataḥ paraṁ śāntaṁ kṣāntam āśusandheyaṁ dayādisatphalaiḥ paripūrṇam asandigdhaṁ niṣkapaṭañca bhavati|
But the wisdom which comes from on high is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, conciliatory, overflowing with mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without insincerity.
18 śāntyācāribhiḥ śāntyā dharmmaphalaṁ ropyate|
And the fruit of righteousness is being sown in peace by those who are working peace.
