3:1 我的弟兄们，你们作教师的人，不要太多，该知道我们作教师的，要受更严厉的审判。
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, 3:2 实在，我们众人都犯许多过失；谁若在言语上不犯过失，他便是个完人，也必能控制全身。
for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. 3:3 试看，我们把嚼环放在马嘴里，就可叫它们顺服我们，调动它们的全身。
If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. 3:4 又看，船只虽然很大，又为大风所吹动，只用小小的舵，便会随掌舵者的意思往前转动；
It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes. 3:5 同样，舌头虽然是一个小小的肢体，却能夸大。看，小小的火，能燃着广大的树林！
In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. 3:6 舌头也像是火。舌头，这不义的世界，安置在我们的肢体中，玷污全身，由地狱取出火来，燃烧生命的轮子。
The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. 3:7 各类的走兽、飞禽、爬虫、水族，都可以驯服，且已被人类驯服了；
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 3:8 至于舌头，却没有人能够驯服，且是个不止息的恶物，满含致死的毒汁。
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 3:9 我们用它赞颂上主和父，也用它诅咒那照天主的肖像而受造的人；
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. 3:10 赞颂与诅咒竟从同一口里发出！我的弟兄们，这事决不该这样！
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers. 3:11 泉源岂能从同一孔穴，涌出甜水和苦水来？
Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water? 3:12 我的弟兄们，无花果树岂能结橄榄，或者葡萄树岂能结无花果？咸水也不能产生甜水。
Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh. 3:13 你们中谁是有智慧，有见识的呢？让他用好品行，彰显他的行为是出于智慧的温和！
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom. 3:14 若你们心里怀有恶毒的嫉妒和纷争，就不可夸耀，不可说谎违反真理。
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 3:15 这种智慧不是从上而来的，而是属于下地的，属于血肉的，属于魔鬼的；
Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 3:16 因为那里有嫉妒和纷争，那里就有扰乱和种种恶行。
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. 3:17 至于从上而来的智慧，它首先是纯洁的，其次是和平的，宽仁的，柔顺的，满有仁慈和善果的，不偏不倚的，没有伪善的。
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. 3:18 为缔造和平的人，正义的果实，乃是在和平中种植的。　
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.