Yakobo 3
1 Me nuanom, ɛnyɛ mo nyinaa na ɛsɛ sɛ moyɛ mo ho akyerɛkyerɛfoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, monim sɛ yɛn akyerɛkyerɛfoɔ deɛ sɛ yɛfom a, wɔbɛbu yɛn atɛn a emu yɛ den sene afoforɔ.
I do not want many of you, my Brothers, to become teachers, knowing, as you do, that we who teach shall be judged by a more severe standard than others.
2 Yɛn nyinaa taa yɛ mfomsoɔ. Onipa a ɔnyɛ mfomsoɔ wɔ deɛ ɔka mu no yɛ pɛ a ɔbɛtumi ahyɛ ne onipadua no so.
We often make mistakes, every one of us. Any one who does not make mistakes when speaking is indeed a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body as well.
3 Yɛde nnareka to ɔpɔnkɔ anom sɛdeɛ ɔbɛtie yɛn na yɛatumi ama wakɔ baabiara a yɛpɛ sɛ ɔkɔ.
When we put bits into horses’ mouths, to make them obey us, we control the rest of their bodies so.
4 Anaasɛ dwene ɛhyɛn ho: sɛdeɛ ne kɛseɛ te a mframa a ano yɛ den na ɛbɔ no, nanso wɔtumi de akyerɛkyerɛkwan ketewaa bi na ɛdanedane no ma ɛkɔ baabi a hyɛnkafoɔ no pɛ sɛ ɛkɔ.
Again, think of ships. Large as they are, and even when driven by fierce winds, they are controlled by a very small rudder and steered in whatever direction the man at the helm may determine.
5 Saa ara na tɛkrɛma teɛ: ne ketewa yi nyinaa akyi, ɛtumi hoahoa nneɛma akɛseɛ. Hwɛ sɛdeɛ ogya ketewaa bi tumi hye kwaeɛ kɛseɛ.
So is it with the tongue. Small as it is, it is a great boaster. Think how tiny a spark may set the largest forest ablaze!
6 Tɛkrɛma te sɛ ogya. Ɛwɔ tumi bɔne bi wɔ onipa akwaa mu. Ɛsɛe onipadua no nyinaa; ɛsɔ onipa abrabɔ nyinaa so ogya ma ɛdɛre framfram. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is like a spark. Among the members of our body it proves itself a very world of mischief; it contaminates the whole body; it sets the wheels of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by the flames of the Pit. (Geenna g1067)
7 Onipa tumi dwodwo mmoadoma, nnomaa, mmoa a wɔwea fam, ɛpo mu mmoa nyinaa,
For while all sorts of beasts and birds, and of reptiles and creatures in the sea, are tameable, and actually have been tamed by man,
8 nanso obiara rentumi nnwodwo tɛkrɛma da. Ɛyɛ bɔne a ɔnhome so na awuduro 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.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made ‘in God’s likeness.’
10 Ano korɔ no ara mu na nkamfo ne nnome firi ba. Me nuanom, ɛnsɛ sɛ ɛba saa.
From the very same mouth come blessings and curses! My Brothers, it is not right that this should be so.
11 Nsuo pa ne nsuo a ɛyɛ nkyenenkyene bɛtumi afiri asutire baako mu aba?
Does a spring give both good and bad water from the same source?
12 Me nuanom, borɔdɔma dua bɛtumi aso ngo dua aba? Anaasɛ bobe bɛtumi aso borɔdɔma? Saa ara na asutire a ɛyɛ nkyenenkyene remma nsu pa.
Can a fig tree, my Brothers, bear olives? or a vine bear figs? No, nor can a brackish well give good water.
13 Obi wɔ mo mu a ɔnim nyansa na ɔwɔ nteaseɛ? Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔnam abrabɔ pa, nnwuma pa a wɔnam ahobrɛaseɛ ne nyansa so da no adi.
Who among you claims to be wise and intelligent? Let him show that his actions are the outcome of a good life lived in the humility of true wisdom.
14 Na sɛ mowɔ nitan, mansotwe ne pɛsɛmenkomenya wɔ mo akoma mu a, ɛnneɛ ɛnsɛ sɛ mohoahoa mo ho, na nam so ka nkontompo tia nokorɛ.
But, while you harbour envy and bitterness and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or lie to the detriment of the Truth.
15 Saa nyansa yi mfiri ɔsoro na ɛbaeɛ. Ɛyɛ ewiase nyansa na ɛyɛ honhommɔne nso.
That is not the wisdom which comes from above; no, it is earthly, animal, devilish.
16 Baabiara a nitan ne pɛsɛmenkomenya wɔ no, basabasa ne bɔne ahodoɔ nyinaa bi wɔ hɔ.
For, where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of base actions.
17 Nanso, nyansa a ɛfiri ɔsoro no yɛ kronkron; asomdwoeɛ wɔ mu, ɛdwo na ɛwɔ nidɔ; ɛwɔ ahummɔborɔ na nneyɛeɛ pa firi mu ba; ɛnnye akyinnyeɛ na ɛnyɛ nyaatwom nso.
But the wisdom from above is, before every thing else, pure; then peace-loving, gentle, open to conviction, rich in compassion and good deeds, and free from partiality and insincerity.
18 Na ɛso aba pa a ɛfiri aba a asomdwoeɛfoɔ duaa no asomdwoeɛ mu no.
And righteousness, its fruit, is sown in peace by those who work for peace.
