Yakobo 3
1 Me nuanom, ɛnyɛ mo nyinaa na ɛsɛ sɛ moyɛ mo ho akyerɛkyerɛfo, efisɛ munim sɛ yɛn akyerɛkyerɛfo de, sɛ yɛfom a, wobebu yɛn atɛn a mu yɛ den sen afoforo.
Not many of you should become teachers, my friends, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly than others.
2 Yɛn nyinaa taa yɛ mfomso. Onipa a ɔnyɛ mfomso wɔ nea ɔka mu no yɛ pɛ a obetumi ahyɛ ne nipadua no so.
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 Yɛde nnareka to ɔpɔnkɔ anom sɛnea obetie yɛn na yɛatumi ama wakɔ baabiara a yɛpɛ sɛ ɔkɔ.
When we put bits into horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we change their course the rest of their bodies.
4 Anaasɛ dwene hyɛn ho; sɛnea ne kɛse te a mframa a ano yɛ den na ɛbɔ no, nanso wotumi de sitia ketewaa bi na ɛdannan no ma ɛkɔ baabi a hyɛnkafo no pɛ sɛ ɛkɔ no.
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 Saa ara na tɛkrɛma te; sua a esua nyinaa akyi no, etumi hoahoa ne ho. Hwɛ sɛnea ogya ketewaa bi si tumi hyew kwae kɛse.
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 Tɛkrɛma nso yɛ ogya, onipa akwaa mu nnebɔne wiase. Ɛsɛe nipadua no nyinaa; ɛsɔ onipa abrabɔ nyinaa so gya na nʼankasa nso ɔsɛe sɔ ne so gya. (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 Onipa tumi dwudwo mmoadoma, nnomaa, mmoa a wɔwea, po mu mmoa nyinaa,
For while all kinds of animals, birds and reptiles and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed by humans,
8 nanso obiara rentumi nnwudwo tɛkrɛma da. Ɔyɛ ɔbɔnefo a ɔyɛ hagyahagya a awuduru ahyɛ no ma.
no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless plague! It is charged with deadly poison!
9 Yɛde tɛkrɛma kamfo yɛn Awurade ne yɛn Agya na yɛde ɛno ara nso adome nnipa a wɔbɔɔ wɔn Onyankopɔn sɛso so no.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made ‘in God’s likeness.’
10 Ano koro no ara mu na nkamfo ne nnome fi ba. Me nuanom, ɛnsɛ sɛ ɛba saa.
From the very same mouth come blessings and curses! My friends, it is not right that this should be so.
11 Nsu pa ne nsu a ɛyɛ nkyenenkyene betumi afi asuti baako mu aba ana?
Does a spring give both good and bad water from the same source?
12 Me nuanom, borɔdɔma dua betumi asow ngodua aba ana? Anaasɛ bobe betumi asow borɔdɔma? Saa ara na asuti a ɛyɛ nkyenenkyene remma nsu pa.
Can a fig tree, my friends, bear olives? Or a vine bear figs? No, nor can a brackish well give good water.
13 Obi wɔ mo mu a onim nyansa na ɔwɔ ntease? Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔnam abrabɔ pa, nnwuma pa a wɔnam ahobrɛase ne nyansa so, da no adi.
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 Na sɛ mowɔ nitan, mansotwe ne pɛsɛmenkominya wɔ mo koma mu a, ɛno de ɛnsɛ sɛ mohoahoa mo ho, na mofa so ka nkontompo tia nokware.
But if you harbor bitter envy and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or deny the truth.
15 Saa nyansa yi mfi ɔsoro na ɛbae. Ɛyɛ wiase nyansa na ɛyɛ honhommɔne nso.
That is not the wisdom which comes from above; no, it is earthly, animalistic, demonic.
16 Baabiara a nitan ne pɛsɛmenkominya wɔ no, basabasa ne bɔne ahorow nyinaa bi wɔ hɔ.
For where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of bad, worthless actions.
17 Nanso nyansa a efi ɔsoro no yɛ kronkron; asomdwoe wɔ mu, edwo na ɛpɛ asomdwoe; ɛwɔ ahummɔbɔ na nneyɛe pa fi mu ba; ennye akyinnye na ɛnyɛ nyaatwom nso.
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 Na ɛsow aba pa a efi aba a asomdwoefo duaa no asomdwoe mu no mu.
Justice is the harvest peacemakers will reap from seeds sown in a spirit of peace.
