Iacobi 3
1 Nolite plures magistri fieri fratres mei, scientes quoniam majus judicium sumitis.
Not many of you should become teachers, my friends, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly than others.
2 In multis enim offendimus omnes. Si quis in verbo non offendit, hic perfectus est vir: potest etiam freno circumducere totum corpus.
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 Si autem equis frena in ora mittimus ad consentiendum nobis, et omne corpus illorum circumferimus.
When we put bits into horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we change their course the rest of their bodies.
4 Ecce et naves, cum magnæ sint, et a ventis validis minentur, circumferuntur a modico gubernaculo ubi impetus dirigentis voluerit.
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 Ita et lingua modicum quidem membrum est, et magna exaltat. Ecce quantus ignis quam magnam silvam incendit!
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 Et lingua ignis est, universitas iniquitatis. Lingua constituitur in membris nostris, quæ maculat totum corpus, et inflammat rotam nativitatis nostræ inflammata a gehenna. (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 Omnis enim natura bestiarum, et volucrum, et serpentium, et ceterorum domantur, et domita sunt a natura humana:
For while all kinds of animals, birds and reptiles and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed by humans,
8 linguam autem nullus hominum domare potest: inquietum malum, plena veneno mortifero.
no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless plague! It is charged with deadly poison!
9 In ipsa benedicimus Deum et Patrem: et in ipsa maledicimus homines, qui ad similitudinem Dei facti sunt.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made “in God’s likeness.”
10 Ex ipso ore procedit benedictio et maledictio. Non oportet, fratres mei, hæc ita fieri.
From the very same mouth come blessings and curses! My friends, it is not right that this should be so.
11 Numquid fons de eodem foramine emanat dulcem et amaram aquam?
Does a spring give both good and bad water from the same source?
12 Numquid potest, fratres mei, ficus uvas facere, aut vitis ficus? Sic neque salsa dulcem potest facere aquam.
Can a fig tree, my friends, bear olives? Or a vine bear figs? No, nor can a brackish well give good water.
13 Quis sapiens et disciplinatus inter vos? Ostendat ex bona conversatione operationem suam in mansuetudine sapientiæ.
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 Quod si zelum amarum habetis, et contentiones sint in cordibus vestris: nolite gloriari, et mendaces esse adversus veritatem:
But if you harbour bitter envy and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or deny the truth.
15 non est enim ista sapientia desursum descendens: sed terrena, animalis, diabolica.
That is not the wisdom which comes from above; no, it is earthly, animalistic, demonic.
16 Ubi enim zelus et contentio, ibi inconstantia et omne opus pravum.
For where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of bad, worthless actions.
17 Quæ autem desursum est sapientia, primum quidem pudica est, deinde pacifica, modesta, suadibilis, bonus consentiens, plena misericordia et fructibus bonis, non judicans, sine simulatione.
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 Fructus autem justitiæ, in pace seminatur, facientibus pacem.
Justice is the harvest peacemakers will reap from seeds sown in a spirit of peace.
