1 K ei tokomaha koutou ki te whakaako, e oku teina, e matau ana hoki koutou rahi ake te he e tau ki a tatou.

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

2 H e maha hoki nga mea e tapepa ai tatou katoa. Ki te kore tetahi e tapepa i te kupu, he tino tika tena tangata, e taea ano e ia te paraire te tinana katoa.

For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

3 N a, ka panga nei e tatou nga paraire ki nga mangai o nga hoiho, kia rongo ai ratou ki a tatou; a pareparea ana e tatou to ratou tinana katoa.

Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

4 W hakaaroa nga kaipuke, nga mea nunui rawa nei, he mea aki nei e nga hau kaha, heoi e pareparea ana e te urungi nohinohi rawa ki te wahi e hiahia ai te hinengaro o te kaiurungi:

Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.

5 W aihoki ko te arero he wahi nohinohi ia, nui atu hoki tona whakapehapeha. Nana, te nui o te wahie e whakaungia ana e te ahi nohinohi!

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

6 H e kapura ano hoki te arero, ko te ao maori o te kino: pera tonu te arero i roto i o tatou wahi, poke iho i a ia te tinana katoa, ngiha ana i a ia huri noa nga mea katoa o te tangata, he mea whakau ano ia na te reinga.

And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

7 K o nga momo kararehe katoa hoki, ko nga manu, ko nga mea ngokingoki, ko nga mea i te moana, e whakararatatia ana, kua whakararatatia ano hoki i mua e te tangata:

For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.

8 K o te arero ia e kore tena e taea e tetahi tangata te whakarata; he kino ia e kore e taea te pehi, ki tonu i te wai whakamate.

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

9 K o ta tatou mea ia hei whakapai i te Atua, i te Matua; ko ta tatou mea ano ia hei kanga i nga tangata, i hanga kia rite ki te Atua.

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;

10 K otahi tonu te mangai puta ake ana i roto ko te manaaki, ko te kanga. Ehara i te pai, e oku teina, kia penei enei mea.

from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

11 E pupu ake ana ranei i te puna ko te reka, ko te kawa, i roto i te poka kotahi?

Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water ?

12 E hua ranei he oriwa ma te piki, e oku teina, he piki ranei ma te waina? e kore ano hoki e pupu ake i te wai tai he wai reka.

Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. Wisdom from Above

13 K o wai te tangata whakaaro nui, te tangata matau i roto i a koutou? ma tona whakahaere pai e whakaatu ana mahi, kei runga i te mahaki o te whakaaro nui.

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

14 T ena ko tenei he hae nanakia to koutou, he totohe i roto i o koutou ngakau, kaua e whakamanamana, kaua hoki e teka ki te pono.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

15 E hara tenei matauranga i te mea e heke iho ana i runga; no te whenua ia, no te ngakau maori, no te rewera.

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

16 I te wahi hoki e noho ai te hae me te totohe, ko reira ano te noho kino me nga mahi he katoa.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

17 K o te matauranga ia o runga, he mea kinokore i te tuatahi, muri iho he rangimarie, he ngawari, he hohoro ki te whakarongo, ki tonu i te mahi tohu, i nga hua pai, kahore ana whiriwhiringa i te tangata, kahore ona tinihanga.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

18 A e ruia ana nga hua o te tika i roto i te rangimarie ma te hunga hohou rongo.

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.