§3.1Μὴ πολλοὶ διδάσκαλοι γίνεσθε, ἀδελφοί μου, εἰδότες ὅτι μεῖζον κρίμα λημψόμεθα·
My brothers, not many of you should become teachers, knowing that we will receive a greater judgment.
§3.2πολλὰ γὰρ πταίομεν ἅπαντες.
For we all stumble in many ways.
εἴ τις ἐν λόγῳ οὐ πταίει, οὗτος τέλειος ἀνήρ, δυνατὸς χαλιναγωγῆσαι καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα.
If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
§3.3εἰ δὲ τῶν ἵππων τοὺς χαλινοὺς εἰς τὰ στόματα βάλλομεν εἰς τὸ πείθεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἡμῖν, καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν μετάγομεν·
If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well.
§3.4ἰδοὺ καὶ τὰ πλοῖα, τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα, μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται·
Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
§3.5οὕτως καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστὶν καὶ μεγάλα αὐχεῖ.
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
ἰδοὺ ἡλίκον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει·
Look how great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
§3.6καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα πῦρ, ὁ κόσμος τῆς ἀδικίας ἡ γλῶσσα καθίσταται ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ἡμῶν, ἡ σπιλοῦσα ὅλον τὸ σῶμα καὶ φλογίζουσα τὸν τροχὸν τῆς γενέσεως καὶ φλογιζομένη ὑπὸ τῆς γεέννης.
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is placed among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the course of life, and itself set on fire by hell.
§3.7πᾶσα γὰρ φύσις θηρίων τε καὶ πετεινῶν ἑρπετῶν τε καὶ ἐναλίων δαμάζεται καὶ δεδάμασται τῇ φύσει τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ·
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
§3.8τὴν δὲ γλῶσσαν οὐδεὶς δαμάσαι δύναται ἀνθρώπων·
but no human being can tame the tongue.
ἀκατάστατον κακόν, μεστὴ ἰοῦ θανατηφόρου.
It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
§3.9ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τὸν κύριον καὶ πατέρα, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς
"καθʼ ὁμοίωσιν θεοῦ"
γεγονότας·
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
§3.10ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ στόματος ἐξέρχεται εὐλογία καὶ κατάρα.
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
οὐ χρή, ἀδελφοί μου, ταῦτα οὕτως γίνεσθαι.
My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
§3.11μήτι ἡ πηγὴ ἐκ τῆς αὐτῆς ὀπῆς βρύει τὸ γλυκὺ καὶ τὸ πικρόν;
Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?
§3.12μὴ δύναται, ἀδελφοί μου, συκῆ ἐλαίας ποιῆσαι ἢ ἄμπελος σῦκα;
Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs?
οὔτε ἁλυκὸν γλυκὺ ποιῆσαι ὕδωρ.
Neither can a salty spring produce fresh water.
§3.13Τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν;
Who is wise and understanding among you?
δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας.
By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
§3.14εἰ δὲ ζῆλον πικρὸν ἔχετε καὶ ἐριθίαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν, μὴ κατακαυχᾶσθε καὶ ψεύδεσθε κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
§3.15οὐκ ἔστιν αὕτη ἡ σοφία ἄνωθεν κατερχομένη, ἀλλὰ ἐπίγειος, ψυχική, δαιμονιώδης·
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
§3.16ὅπου γὰρ ζῆλος καὶ ἐριθία, ἐκεῖ ἀκαταστασία καὶ πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
§3.17ἡ δὲ ἄνωθεν σοφία πρῶτον μὲν ἁγνή ἐστιν, ἔπειτα εἰρηνική, ἐπιεικής, εὐπειθής, μεστὴ ἐλέους καὶ καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἀδιάκριτος, ἀνυπόκριτος·
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, sincere.
§3.18καρπὸς δὲ δικαιοσύνης ἐν εἰρήνῃ σπείρεται τοῖς ποιοῦσιν εἰρήνην.
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.