Yakobo 3
1 Ndugu zangu, msiwe walimu wengi, kwa maana mnafahamu kwamba sisi tufundishao tutahukumiwa vikali zaidi.
Not many of you should become teachers, my friends, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly than others.
2 Sisi sote tunajikwaa katika mambo mengi. Ikiwa mtu yeyote hakosei kamwe katika yale anayosema, yeye ni mkamilifu, naye anaweza kuuzuia pia na mwili wake wote.
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 Tunapotia lijamu kwenye vinywa vya farasi ili kuwafanya watutii, tunaweza kuigeuza miili yao yote.
When we put bits into horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we change their course the rest of their bodies.
4 Au angalia pia meli, ingawa ni kubwa sana, nazo huchukuliwa na upepo mkali, lakini hugeuzwa kwa usukani mdogo sana, kokote anakotaka nahodha.
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 Vivyo hivyo ulimi ni kiungo kidogo sana katika mwili, lakini hujivuna majivuno makuu. Fikirini jinsi moto mdogo unavyoweza kuteketeza msitu mkubwa!
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 Ulimi pia ni moto, ndio ulimwengu wa uovu kati ya viungo vya mwili. Ulimi huutia mwili wote wa mtu unajisi na kuuwasha moto mfumo mzima wa maisha yake, nao wenyewe huchomwa moto wa jehanamu. (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 Kwa maana kila aina ya wanyama, ndege, wanyama watambaao na viumbe vya baharini vinafugika na vimefugwa na binadamu,
For while all kinds of animals, birds and reptiles and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed by humans,
8 lakini hakuna mtu awezaye kuufuga ulimi. Ni uovu usiotulia, umejaa sumu iletayo mauti.
no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless plague! It is charged with deadly poison!
9 Kwa ulimi tunamhimidi Bwana, yaani Baba yetu, na kwa huo twawalaani watu walioumbwa kwa mfano wa Mungu.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made “in God’s likeness.”
10 Katika kinywa kile kile hutoka baraka na laana. Ndugu zangu, haistahili kuwa hivyo.
From the very same mouth come blessings and curses! My friends, it is not right that this should be so.
11 Je, chemchemi yaweza kutoa katika tundu moja maji matamu na maji ya chumvi?
Does a spring give both good and bad water from the same source?
12 Je, ndugu zangu, mtini waweza kuzaa zeituni, au mzabibu kuzaa tini? Wala chemchemi ya maji ya chumvi haiwezi kutoa maji matamu.
Can a fig tree, my friends, bear olives? Or a vine bear figs? No, nor can a brackish well give good water.
13 Ni nani aliye na hekima na ufahamu miongoni mwenu? Basi na aionyeshe hiyo kwa maisha yake mema na kwa matendo yake yaliyotendwa kwa unyenyekevu utokanao na hekima.
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 Lakini ikiwa mna wivu na ni wenye chuki na ugomvi mioyoni mwenu, msijisifu kwa ajili ya hayo wala msiikatae kweli.
But if you harbour bitter envy and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or deny the truth.
15 Hekima ya namna hiyo haishuki kutoka mbinguni, bali ni ya kidunia, isiyo ya kiroho, na ya kishetani.
That is not the wisdom which comes from above; no, it is earthly, animalistic, demonic.
16 Kwa maana panapokuwa na wivu na ubinafsi, ndipo penye machafuko na uovu wa kila namna.
For where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of bad, worthless actions.
17 Lakini hekima itokayo mbinguni kwanza ni safi, kisha inapenda amani, tena ni ya upole, iliyo tayari kusikiliza wengine kwa unyenyekevu, iliyojaa huruma na matunda mema, isiyopendelea mtu, tena isiyokuwa na unafiki.
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 Mavuno ya haki hupandwa katika amani na wale wafanyao amani.
Justice is the harvest peacemakers will reap from seeds sown in a spirit of peace.
