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

¹Be not many [of you] teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.

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

²For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

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

³Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.

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

⁴Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.

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

⁵So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!

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.

⁶And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.

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

⁷For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.

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

⁸But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison.

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

⁹Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

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

¹⁰out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

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

¹¹Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter?

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

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

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.

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.

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

¹⁴But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.

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

¹⁵This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

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

¹⁶For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.

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.

¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

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

¹⁸And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.