Yakobo 3
1 Ndugu zangu, siyo wengi wenu mnapaswa kuwa walimu, mkijua kwamba tutapokea hukumu kubwa zaidi.
Do not all be teachers, my brothers, because we teachers will be judged more hardly than others.
2 Kwa kuwa wote tunakosea katika njia nyingi. Kama yeyote huwa hajikwai katika maneno yake, huyo ni mtu mkamilifu, aweza kudhibiti mwili wake wote pia.
For we all go wrong in a number of things. If a man never makes a slip in his talk, then he is a complete man and able to keep all his body in control.
3 Sasa kama tunaweka lijamu za farasi katika vinywa vyao wanatutii, na tunaweza kuigeuza miili yao yote.
Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies.
4 Tambua pia kwamba meli, ingawa ni kubwa na husukumwa na upepo mkali, zinaongozwa kwa usukani mdogo sana kwenda popote anakotaka nahodha.
And again ships, though they are so great and are moved by violent winds, are turned by a very small guiding-blade, at the impulse of the man who is using it.
5 Vivyo hivyo, ulimi ni kiungo kidogo cha mwili, lakini hujisifia makuu sana. Angalia msitu mkubwa unavyoweza kuwashwa kwa cheche ndogo ya moto!
Even so the tongue is a small part of the body, but it takes credit for great things. How much wood may be lighted by a very little fire!
6 Ulimi pia ni moto, ni ulimwengu wa uovu, umewekwa miongoni mwa viungo vya mwili wetu, ambao hunajisi mwili wote na huiweka juu ya moto njia ya maisha, na wenyewe kuchomwa moto wa kuzimu. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 Kila aina ya mnyama wa polini, ndege, kitambaacho na kiumbe cha baharini kinadhibitiwa na wanadamu.
For every sort of beast and bird and every living thing on earth and in the sea has been controlled by man and is under his authority;
8 lakini hakuna mwanadamu hata mmoja ambaye anaweza kudhibiti ulimi; ni uovu usiotulia, umejaa sumu ya kufisha.
But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death.
9 Kwa ulimi twamtukuza Bwana na Baba yetu, na kwa huo twawalaani watu ambao wameumbwa kwa mfano wa Mungu.
With it we give praise to our Lord and Father; and with it we put a curse on men who are made in God's image.
10 Katika kinywa hichohicho husema maneno ya baraka na laana. Ndugu zangu mambo haya hayapaswi kuwa.
Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for these things to be so.
11 Je, kisima kimoja huweza kutoa maji matamu na machungu?
Does the fountain send from the same outlet sweet and bitter water?
12 Ndugu zangu, Je, mti wa mtini unaweza kuzaa matunda ya mzeituni, au mzabibu unazaa matunda ya mtini? Wala chemchemi ya maji chumvi haitoi maji yasio na chumvi.
Is a fig-tree able to give us olives, my brothers, or do we get figs from a vine, or sweet water from the salt sea?
13 Ni nani miongoni mwenu aliye na hekima na ufahamu? Hebu mtu huyo na aoneshe maisha mema katika kazi zake kwa unyenyekevu utokanao na hekima.
Who has wisdom and good sense among you? let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom.
14 Lakini kama mnao wivu mkali na nia ya ubinafsi mioyoni mwenu, msijivune na kusema uongo mkiupinga ukweli.
But if you have bitter envy in your heart and the desire to get the better of others, have no pride in this, talking falsely against what is true.
15 Hii siyo hekima ile ishukayo kutoka juu, lakini badala yake ni ya kidunia, si ya kiroho, na ni ya kipepo.
This wisdom is not from heaven, but is of the earth and the flesh and the Evil One.
16 Kwa kuwa palipo na wivu na ubinafsi upo, kuna vurugu na kila matendo maovu
For where envy is, and the desire to get the better of others, there is no order, but every sort of evil-doing.
17 Lakini hekima itokayo juu, kwanza ni safi, kisha kupenda amani, upole na ukarimu, yenye kujaa rehema na matunda mema, bila kupendelea watu fulani, na kweli.
But the wisdom which is from heaven is first holy, then gentle, readily giving way in argument, full of peace and mercy and good works, not doubting, not seeming other than it is.
18 Na tunda la haki hupandwa katika amani kwa wale ambao wanatenda mambo ya amani.
And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace for those who make peace.
