¹Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.

¹Ndugu zangu, wengi wenu msiwe walimu. Kama mjuavyo, sisi walimu tutapata hukumu kubwa zaidi kuliko wengine.

²For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, *he* [is] a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.

²Lakini kama mtu hakosi katika usemi wake, basi, huyo ni mkamilifu, na anaweza kutawala nafsi yake yote.

³Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.

³Sisi huwatia farasi lijamu kinywani mwao ili watutii; na kwa njia hiyo twaweza kuwaongoza kokote tunakotaka.

⁴Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will.

⁴Meli nazo pia, ingawa ni kubwa sana, na husukumwa na upepo mkali, huweza kugeuzwa kwa usukani mdogo sana, zikaelekea kokote nahodha anakotaka.

⁵Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!

⁵Vivyo hivyo, ulimi, ingawa ni kiungo kidogo cha mwili, hujisifia makuu sana. Moto mdogo waweza kuteketeza msitu mkubwa.

⁶and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.

⁶Hali kadhalika ulimi ni kama moto. Umejaa maovu chungu nzima, unayo nafasi yake katika miili yetu na hueneza ubaya katika nafsi zetu zote. Huteketeza maisha yetu yote kwa moto utokao Jehanamu kwenyewe.

⁷For every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of sea animals, is tamed and has been tamed by the human species;

⁷Binadamu anaweza kuwafuga wanyama, na amefaulu kufuga viumbe vyote--wanyama wa mwituni, ndege, nyoka na viumbe vya baharini.

⁸but the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.

⁸Lakini hakuna mtu aliyeweza kuufuga ulimi. Ulimi ni kitu kiovu, hakitawaliki, na kimejaa sumu inayoua.

⁹Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness of God.

⁹Kwa ulimi sisi twamshukuru Bwana na Baba yetu. Kwa ulimi huohuo twawalaani watu, watu ambao wameumbwa kwa mfano wa Mungu.

¹⁰Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.

¹⁰Maneno ya laana na ya kusifia hutoka katika kinywa kimoja. Ndugu zangu, mambo haya hayapaswi kuwa hivyo.

¹¹Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?

¹¹Je, chemchemi moja yaweza kutoa maji matamu na maji machungu pamoja?

¹²Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt [water] make sweet water.

¹²Ndugu zangu, je, mti wa mtini waweza kuzaa zeituni? Au, mzabibu waweza kuzaa tini? Chemchemi ya maji ya chumvi haiwezi kutoa maji matamu.

¹³Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;

¹³Je, ni nani mwenye hekima na akili miongoni mwenu? Basi, aonyeshe jambo hilo kwa mwenendo wake mzuri na kwa matendo yake mema yanayofanyika kwa unyenyekevu na hekima.

¹⁴but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

¹⁴Lakini ikiwa mioyo yenu imejaa wivu, chuki na ubinafsi, basi, msijisifu na kusema uongo dhidi ya ukweli.

¹⁵This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.

¹⁵Hekima ya namna hiyo haitoki juu mbinguni; hekima hiyo ni ya ulimwengu, na ya kidunia, tena ni ya kishetani.

¹⁶For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.

¹⁶Maana popote palipo na wivu na ubinafsi hapo pana fujo na kila aina ya uovu.

¹⁷But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.

¹⁷Lakini hekima itokayo juu mbinguni, kwanza ni safi; inapenda amani, upole na huwajali watu; imejaa huruma na huzaa matunda ya matendo mema; haina ubaguzi wala unafiki.

¹⁸But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.

¹⁸Uadilifu ni mazao ya mbegu ambazo wapenda amani hupanda katika amani.