The Latin Vulgate VUL
Good News Translation GNT
1 nolite plures magistri fieri fratres mei scientes quoniam maius iudicium sumitis
1
My friends, not many of you should become teachers. As you know, we teachers will be judged with greater strictness than others.
2 in multis enim offendimus omnes si quis in verbo non offendit hic perfectus est vir potens etiam freno circumducere totum corpus
2
All of us often make mistakes. But if a person never makes a mistake in what he says, he is perfect and is also able to control his whole being.
3 si autem equorum frenos in ora mittimus ad consentiendum nobis et omne corpus illorum circumferimus
3
We put a bit into the mouth of a horse to make it obey us, and we are able to make it go where we want.
4 ecce et naves cum magnae sint et a ventis validis minentur circumferuntur a modico gubernaculo ubi impetus dirigentis voluerit
4
Or think of a ship: big as it is and driven by such strong winds, it can be steered by a very small rudder, and it goes wherever the pilot wants it to go.
5 ita et lingua modicum quidem membrum est et magna exultat ecce quantus ignis quam magnam silvam incendit
5
So it is with the tongue: small as it is, it can boast about great things. Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame!
6 et lingua ignis est universitas iniquitatis lingua constituitur in membris nostris quae maculat totum corpus et inflammat rotam nativitatis nostrae inflammata a gehenna
6
And the tongue is like a fire. It is a world of wrong, occupying its place in our bodies and spreading evil through our whole being. It sets on fire the entire course of our existence with the fire that comes to it from hell itself.
7 omnis enim natura bestiarum et volucrum et serpentium etiam ceterorum domantur et domita sunt a natura humana
7
We humans are able to tame and have tamed all other creatures - wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish.
8 linguam autem nullus hominum domare potest inquietum malum plena veneno mortifero
8
But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison.
9 in ipsa benedicimus Dominum et Patrem et in ipsa maledicimus homines qui ad similitudinem Dei facti sunt
9
We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God.
10 ex ipso ore procedit benedictio et maledictio non oportet fratres mei haec ita fieri
10
Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen!
11 numquid fons de eodem foramine emanat dulcem et amaram aquam
11
No spring of water pours out sweet water and bitter water from the same opening.
12 numquid potest fratres mei ficus olivas facere aut vitis ficus sic neque salsa dulcem potest facere aquam
12
A fig tree, my friends, cannot bear olives; a grapevine cannot bear figs, nor can a salty spring produce sweet water.
13 quis sapiens et disciplinatus inter vos ostendat ex bona conversatione operationem suam in mansuetudine sapientiae
13
Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom.
14 quod si zelum amarum habetis et contentiones in cordibus vestris nolite gloriari et mendaces esse adversus veritatem
14
But if in your heart you are jealous, bitter, and selfish, don't sin against the truth by boasting of your wisdom.
15 non est ista sapientia desursum descendens sed terrena animalis diabolica
15
Such wisdom does not come down from heaven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic.
16 ubi enim zelus et contentio ibi inconstantia et omne opus pravum
16
Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil.
17 quae autem desursum est sapientia primum quidem pudica est deinde pacifica modesta suadibilis plena misericordia et fructibus bonis non iudicans sine simulatione
17
But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.
18 fructus autem iustitiae in pace seminatur facientibus pacem
18
And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.