Jakovljeva poslanica 3

Obuzdavanje jezika

1 Nastojte, braćo moja, da previše vas ne postane učiteljima; oni će biti strože suđeni.2 Svi mi često pogriješimo, ali onaj tko može obuzdati svoj jezik, kadar je sebe u svemu obuzdati.3 Stavimo li konju uzde u usta, lako ćemo upravljati cijelim njegovim tijelom da ide kamo hoćemo.4 Pogledajte lađe! Tako su velike i gone ih jaki vjetrovi, a ipak ih sitno kormilo upravlja kamo kormilar hoće.5 Tako je i jezik malen ud, a može se pohvaliti velikim stvarima. Malena iskrica može zapaliti veliku šumu.

6 I jezik je vatra; on je cio opaki svijet među našim udovima. Kalja cijelu našu osobu i, zapaljen od pakla, zapaljuje sav naš život.
7 Svakovrsne zvijeri i ptice, gmazovi i morske životinje dadu se ukrotiti i čovjek ih je ukrotio -8 ali nitko od ljudi ne može obuzdati jezik. On je zlo koje ne miruje, puno smrtonosna otrova.9 Njime blagoslivljamo Gospodina i Oca, ali i proklinjemo ljude koji su stvoreni na Božju sliku.10 Tako iz istih usta izlaze i blagoslovi i kletve. A to, draga braćo, ne smije biti!11 Zar iz istog izvora izvire i slatka i gorka voda?

12 Može li smokva roditi maslinama ili trs smokvama? Tako ni slani izvor ne može dati slatku vodu.

Prava, Božja mudrost

13 Tko je od vas mudar i razborit, neka dobrim življenjem pokazuje djela učinjena u blagosti. Jer mudro je biti blag.14 Ali nipošto se ne hvalite da ste mudri i dobri ako u srcu imate gorku zavist i sebičnost. Time lažete protiv istine.15 Zavist i sebičnost nisu Božja mudrost. Takve su pojave zemaljske, neduhovne, nadahnute đavlom.

16 Jer gdje ima zavisti i sebičnosti, bit će i nereda i svakovrsnoga drugog zla.
17 A mudrost koja dolazi s neba ponajprije je čista. Mirotvorna je, blaga, dobrohotna, puna milosrđa i dobrih djela. Postojana je i iskrena.

18 A mirotvorci će posijati sjeme mira i požeti žetvu pravednosti.

James 3

The Power of the Tongue

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,t because you know that we will be judged more strictly.t2 For we all stumblet in many ways. If someone does not stumblet in what he says,t he is a perfect individual,t able to control the entire body as well.3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.t4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs.5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body,t yet it has great pretensions.t Thinkt how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.

6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue representst the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. Itt pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.s
7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creaturet is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.t8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restlesss evil, full of deadly poison.9 With it we bless the Lords and Father, and with it we curse peoplet made in God’s image.10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.t11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?

12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters,t or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.

True Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.t14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.15 Sucht wisdom does not comet from above but is earthly, natural,t demonic.16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating,t full of mercy and good fruit,t impartial, and not hypocritical.t

18 And the fruit that consists of righteousnesst is plantedt in peace amongt those who make peace.