| | | Ostervald | |
| 1 | My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. | Mes frères, qu'il n'y en ait pas parmi vous beaucoup qui enseignent, car nous encourrons un jugement plus sévère. | Be not many [of you] teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment. |
| 2 | For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. | Or, nous bronchons tous en plusieurs choses. Si quelqu'un ne bronche point en paroles, c'est un homme parfait, qui peut tenir aussi tout son corps en bride. | For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. |
| 3 | Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. | Voici, nous mettons des mors dans la bouche des chevaux, afin qu'ils nous obéissent, et nous dirigeons tout leur corps. | Now if we put the horses` bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also. |
| 4 | Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. | Voici encore, les navires, qui sont si grands, et que poussent des vents violents, sont dirigés par un très petit gouvernail, partout où le commande le pilote. | Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth. |
| 5 | Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! | La langue de même est un petit membre, et elle se vante de grandes choses. Voici un petit feu; combien de bois ne peut-il pas allumer? | So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! |
| 6 | And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. | La langue aussi est un feu, un monde d'iniquité. Ainsi la langue est placée parmi nos membres, souillant tout le corps, et enflammant le cours de la vie, enflammée elle-même de la géhenne. | And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. |
| 7 | For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: | Toute espèce de bêtes sauvages et d'oiseaux, de reptiles et d'animaux marins se domptent et ont été domptés par la nature humaine; | For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind. |
| 8 | But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. | Mais aucun homme ne peut dompter la langue; c'est un mal qu'on ne peut réprimer; elle est pleine d'un venin mortel. | But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison. |
| 9 | Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. | Par elle nous bénissons Dieu le Père, et par elle nous maudissons les hommes, faits à l'image de Dieu. | Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: |
| 10 | Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. | De la même bouche sort la bénédiction et la malédiction. Il ne faut point, mes frères, que cela soit ainsi. | out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. |
| 11 | Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? | Une fontaine jette-t-elle, par la même ouverture, de l'eau douce et de l'eau amère? | Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter? |
| 12 | Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. | Mes frères, un figuier peut-il porter des olives; ou une vigne, des figues? De même aucune fontaine ne peut donner de l'eau salée et de l'eau douce. | Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt water yield sweet. |
| 13 | Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. | Y a-t-il parmi vous quelque homme sage et intelligent? Qu'il montre ses oeuvres par une bonne conduite avec la douceur de la sagesse; | Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. |
| 14 | But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. | Mais si vous avez un zèle amer, et un esprit de contention dans votre coeur, ne vous glorifiez point et ne mentez point contre la vérité. | But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. |
| 15 | This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. | Ce n'est point là la sagesse qui vient d'en haut, mais elle est terrestre, animale et diabolique. | This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. |
| 16 | For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. | Car partout où sont la jalousie et la chicane, là il y a du trouble, et toute espèce de mal. | For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. |
| 17 | But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. | Quant à la sagesse d'en haut, elle est d'abord pure, puis paisible, modérée, traitable, pleine de miséricorde et de bons fruits, impartiale et sans dissimulation. | But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. |
| 18 | And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. | Or, le fruit de la justice se sème dans la paix, pour ceux qui s'adonnent à la paix. | And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace. |
