1 Nolite plures magistri fieri, fra tres mei, scientes quoniam maiusiudicium accipiemus. | 1 Only a few of you, my brothers, should be teachers, bearing in mind that we shal receive a stricterjudgement. |
2 In multis enim offendimus omnes. Si quis in verbo nonoffendit, hic perfectus est vir, potens etiam freno circumducere totum corpus. | 2 For we all trip up in many ways. Someone who does not trip up in speech has reached perfection andis able to keep the whole body on a tight rein. |
3 Si autem equorum frenos in ora mittimus ad oboediendum nobis, et omne corpusillorum circumferimus. | 3 Once we put a bit in the horse's mouth, to make it do what we want, we have the whole animal underour control. |
4 Ecce et naves, cum tam magnae sint et a ventis validisminentur, circumferuntur a minimo gubernaculo, ubi impetus dirigentis voluerit; | 4 Or think of ships: no matter how big they are, even if a gale is driving them, they are directed by a tinyrudder wherever the whim of the helmsman decides. |
5 ita et lingua modicum quidem membrum est et magna exsultat. Ecce quantus ignisquam magnam silvam incendit! | 5 So the tongue is only a tiny part of the body, but its boasts are great. Think how smal a flame can setfire to a huge forest; |
6 Et lingua ignis est, universitas iniquitatis;lingua constituitur in membris nostris, quae maculat totum corpus et inflammatrotam nativitatis et inflammatur a gehenna. | 6 The tongue is a flame too. Among al the parts of the body, the tongue is a whole wicked world: itinfects the whole body; catching fire itself from hel , it sets fire to the whole wheel of creation. |
7 Omnis enim natura et bestiarum etvolucrum et serpentium et etiam cetorum domatur et domita est a natura humana; | 7 Wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish of every kind can al be tamed, and have been tamed, byhumans; |
8 linguam autem nullus hominum domare potest, inquietum malum, plena venenomortifero. | 8 but nobody can tame the tongue -- it is a pest that wil not keep stil , ful of deadly poison. |
9 In ipsa benedicimus Dominum et Patrem et in ipsa maledicimushomines, qui ad similitudinem Dei facti sunt; | 9 We use it to bless the Lord and Father, but we also use it to curse people who are made in God'simage: |
10 ex ipso ore procedit benedictioet maledictio. Non oportet, fratres mei, haec ita fieri. | 10 the blessing and curse come out of the same mouth. My brothers, this must be wrong- |
11 Numquid fons deeodem foramine emanat dulcem et amaram aquam? | 11 does any water supply give a flow of fresh water and salt water out of the same pipe? |
12 Numquid potest, fratres mei,ficus olivas facere, aut vitis ficus? Neque salsa dulcem potest facere aquam.
| 12 Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers, or a vine yield figs? No more can sea water yield fresh water. |
13 Quis sapiens et disciplinatus inter vos? Ostendat ex bona conversationeoperationem suam in mansuetudine sapientiae. | 13 Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds donein the gentleness of wisdom. |
14 Quod si zelum amarum habetis etcontentiones in cordibus vestris, nolite gloriari et mendaces esse adversusveritatem. | 14 But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide thetruth with lies; |
15 Non est ista sapientia desursum descendens, sed terrena, animalis,diabolica; | 15 this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish. |
16 ubi enim zelus et contentio, ibi inconstantia et omne opus pravum. | 16 Wherever there are jealousy and ambition, there are also disharmony and wickedness of every kind; |
17 Quae autem desursum est sapientia primum quidem pudica est, deinde pacifica,modesta, suadibilis, plena misericordia et fructibus bonis, non iudicans, sinesimulatione; | 17 whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essential y something pure; it is also peaceable,kindly and considerate; it is ful of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality orhypocrisy in it. |
18 fructus autem iustitiae in pace seminatur facientibus pacem.
| 18 The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice. |