Semisi 3
1 ʻE hoku kāinga, ke ʻoua naʻa akonaki ʻae tokolahi, he ʻoku mou ʻilo ʻe ʻāsili ai ʻae tautea kiate kitautolu.
My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 He ʻoku tau tūkia kotoa pē ʻi he ngaahi meʻa kehekehe. Kapau ʻe ʻikai tūkia ha taha ʻi he lea, ko e tangata haohaoa ia, pea ʻoku faʻa fai ʻe ia ke taʻofi ki he sino kotoa.
For in many things we all offend. If any one offends not in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Vakai, ʻoku tau ʻai ʻae meʻa taʻofi ki he ngutu ʻoe fanga hoosi, koeʻuhi ke nau paongofua kiate kitautolu; pea ʻoku tau puleʻi ʻaki ia honau sino kotoa.
Behold, we put bits into horses mouths that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
4 Vakai foki ki he ngaahi vaka he neongo ʻoku lalahi, pea fakangaholo ʻe he ngaahi matangi mālohi, ka ʻoku faʻa feliliuʻaki ia ʻae foheʻuli siʻi, ʻo faʻiteliha ʻae tangata ʻoku fakaʻuli.
Behold also the ships, which are very great, and are driven by violent winds; yet they are turned about by a very small helm, to whatever point the will of him that directs it may determine.
5 ʻOku pehē foki ki he ʻelelo, ko e kupu siʻi, ka ʻoku ne polepole ki he ngaahi meʻa lahi. Vakai ki hono lahi ʻoe vao ʻakau kuo tutu ʻaki ʻae afi siʻi!
So, also, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a forest does a little fire set in a blaze.
6 Pea ko e afi ʻae ʻelelo, ko e maama angahala: ʻoku pehē ʻae ʻelelo ʻi heʻene ʻi hotau ngaahi kupuʻi sino, ʻoku ne ʻuliʻi ʻae sino kotoa, ʻoku ne fakavela ʻae anga fakakakano; pea kuo tutu ia mei heli. (Geenna g1067)
And the tongue is a fire, the world of iniquity. So is the tongue placed among our members, defiling the whole body, setting on fire the course of life, and being set on fire by hell. (Geenna g1067)
7 He naʻe fakalalata ʻi muʻa, pea ʻoku kei fakalalata ʻe he kakai, ʻae manu fekai kehekehe kotoa pē, mo e fanga manupuna, mo e ngaahi meʻa totolo, pea mo e ngaahi meʻa ʻi he tahi:
For every kind of beasts and of birds, of creeping things and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by man:
8 Ka ʻoku ʻikai faʻa fakalalata ʻe ha tangata ʻae ʻelelo; ko e kovi taʻefaʻataʻofi ʻaia, ʻoku pito ʻi he kona fakamate.
but the tongue no man can tame; it is an unruly evil; it is full of deadly poison.
9 Ko ia ʻoku tau fakafetaʻi ʻaki ki he ʻOtua ko e Tamai; pea ko ia ʻoku kape ʻaki ʻae kakai, ʻaia naʻe ngaohi ʻi he tatau ʻoe ʻOtua.
With it we bless God, even the Father: and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.
10 ʻOku mei he ngutu pe taha ʻae tāpuaki mo e kapekape. ʻE hoku kāinga, ʻe ʻikai siʻi lelei ke pehē ʻae ngaahi meʻa ni.
Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not so to be.
11 He ʻoku puna mai mei ha matavai pe taha ʻa e [vai ]melie mo e [vai ]kona?
Does a fountain send forth from the same cavern sweet water and bitter?
12 ʻE hoku kāinga, ʻe faʻa tupu ʻi he fiki ʻae fua ʻoe ʻolive? Pe ʻi he vaine ʻae fua ʻoe fiki? Pea pehē, ʻoku ʻikai ha matavai ʻe puna mei ai ʻa e [vai ]kona mo e [vai ]melie.
Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olives, or the vine, figs? So no fountain can produce salt water and fresh.
13 Ko hai ha taha ʻoku poto mo ʻilo lahi ʻiate kimoutolu? Ke fakahā ʻe ia ʻi he ʻulungāanga lelei ʻa ʻene ngaahi ngāue ʻi he angavaivai mo e poto.
Who is wise and discreet among you? Let him show, by a good behavior, his works, with the meekness of wisdom.
14 Pea kapau ʻoku ʻi homou loto ʻae feinga kovi mo e fekeʻikeʻi, ʻoua naʻa mou polepole ai, mo lohiakiʻi ʻae moʻoni.
But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 ʻOku ʻikai ʻalu hifo mei ʻolunga ʻae poto ni, ka ʻoku fakamaama, mo fakakakano, pea fakatēvolo.
This wisdom comes not from above, but is earthly, animal, demoniac.
16 He ko ia ʻoku ʻi ai ʻae meheka mo e fekeʻikeʻi, ʻoku ʻi ai ʻae maveuveu mo e ngāue kovi kotoa pē.
For where envy and strife are, there is commotion, and every evil work.
17 Ka ko e poto ʻoku mei ʻolunga ʻoku fuofua maʻa, pea fakamelino, pea angavaivai, pea ongongofua ki he kole, ʻoku pito ʻi he ʻaloʻofa mo e ngaahi fua lelei, ʻoku ʻikai filifilimānako, ʻoku ʻikai ke mālualoi.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 Pea kuo tūtuuʻi ʻae fua ʻoe māʻoniʻoni ʻi he melino maʻanautolu ʻoku faʻa fakalelei.
And those who cultivate peace, sow for themselves a harvest of righteousness in peace.
