James 3
1 My friends, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will have a heavier responsibility in the judgment.
Nolite plures magistri fieri fratres mei, scientes quoniam maius iudicium sumitis.
2 All of us make mistakes in many ways. Anyone who doesn't make mistakes in what they say is truly a good person who can keep the whole body under control.
In multis enim offendimus omnes. Si quis in verbo non offendit: hic perfectus est vir. potest etiam freno circumducere totum corpus.
3 We put bridles into the mouths of horses so that they'll obey us, and we can direct them wherever we want.
Si autem equis frena in ora mittimus ad consentiendum nobis, et omne corpus illorum circumferimus.
4 Look at ships as well: even though they're very big and are driven along by strong winds, they're steered by a very small rudder in the direction the pilot wants to go.
Ecce et naves, cum magnæ sint, et a ventis validis minentur, circumferuntur a modico gubernaculo ubi impetus dirigentis voluerit.
5 In just the same way the tongue is a very small part of the body, but it makes great boasts! Think how a big forest can be set on fire by a very small flame!
Ita et lingua modicum quidem membrum est, et magna exaltat. Ecce quantus ignis quam magnam silvam incendit!
6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue is a world of evil among the parts of the body. It disgraces all you are as a person, and can burn down the whole of your life, since it is set on fire by Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
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)
7 People have tamed all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures,
Omnis enim natura bestiarum, et volucrum, et serpentium, et ceterorum domantur, et domita sunt a natura humana:
8 but no one can tame the tongue—it's an evil thing, hard to control, full of deadly poison.
linguam autem nullus hominum domare potest: inquietum malum, plena veneno mortifero.
9 We use the same tongue to bless our Lord and Father, as well as to curse people who are made in God's image—
In ipsa benedicimus Deum et Patrem: et in ipsa maledicimus homines, qui ad similitudinem Dei facti sunt.
10 blessings and curses come from the same mouth! Friends, it shouldn't be this way!
Ex ipso ore procedit benedictio, et maledictio. Non oportet, fratres mei, hæc ita fieri.
11 Does a spring send both sweet and bitter water out of the same opening?
Numquid fons de eodem foramine emanat dulcem, et amaram aquam?
12 My friends, a fig tree can't produce olives, and a vine can't produce figs, any more than a salt water spring can produce fresh water!
Numquid potest, fratres mei, ficus uvas facere, aut vitis ficus? Sic neque salsa dulcem potest facere aquam.
13 Who among you has wisdom and understanding? Let their good lives demonstrate what they do—doing what is right with wise kindness and consideration.
Quis sapiens, et disciplinatus inter vos? Ostendat ex bona conversatione operationem suam in mansuetudine sapientiæ.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast about it and don't lie against the truth.
Quod si zelum amarum habetis, et contentiones sint in cordibus vestris: nolite gloriari, et mendaces esse adversus veritatem.
15 This kind of “wisdom” doesn't come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
non est enim ista sapientia desursum descendens: sed terrena, animalis, diabolica.
16 Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition you'll also find confusion and all kinds of evil practices.
Ubi enim zelus et contentio: ibi inconstantia, et omne opus pravum.
17 However, wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, and it also brings peace. It is kind and open to reason. It is full of mercy and produces good things. It is genuine and not hypocritical.
Quæ autem desursum est sapientia, primum quidem pudica est, deinde pacifica, modesta, suadibilis, bonus consentiens, plena misericordia, et fructibus bonis, non iudicans, sine simulatione.
18 Those who sow peace will harvest the peace of what is truly good and right.
Fructus autem iustitiæ, in pace seminatur, facientibus pacem.
