< 雅各書 2 >
1 我的弟兄們,你們既信仰我們已受光榮的主耶穌基督,就不該按外貌待人。
MY brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 如果有一個人,戴著金戒指,穿著華美的衣服,進入你們的會堂,同時一個衣服骯髒的窮人也進來,
For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 你們就專看那穿華美衣服的人,且對他說:「請坐在這邊好位上!」而對那窮人說:「你站在那裏!」或說「坐在我的腳凳下邊」!
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 這豈不是你們自己立定區別,而按偏邪的心思判斷人嗎?
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 我親愛的弟兄們,請聽!天主不是選了世俗視為貧窮的人,使他們富於信德,並繼承他向愛他的人所預許的國嗎?
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 可是你們,竟侮辱窮人!豈不是富貴人仗勢欺壓你們,親自拉你們上法庭嗎?
But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 的確,如果你們按照經書所說『你應當愛你的近人如你自己』的話,滿了最高的法律,你們便作的對了;
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 但若你們按外貌待人,那就是犯罪,就被法律指證為犯法者,
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 因為誰若遵守全部法律,但只觸犯了一條,就算是全犯了,
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 因為那說了『不可行姦淫』的,也說了『不可殺人。』縱然你不行姦淫,你卻殺人,你仍成了犯法的人。
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 你們要怎樣按照自由的法律受審判,你們就怎樣說話行事罷!
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 因為對不行憐憫的人,審判時也沒有憐憫;憐憫必得勝審判。
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 我的弟兄們,若有人說自己有信德,卻沒有行為,有什麼益處?難道這信德能救他嗎?
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 即使你們中有人給他們說:「你們平安去罷!穿得暖暖的,吃得飽飽的!」卻不給他們身體所必需的,有什麼益處呢?
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 也許有人說:你有信德,我卻有行為;把你沒有行為的信德指給我看,我便會藉我的行為,叫你看我的信德。
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 你信只有一個天主嗎!你信得對,連魔鬼也信,且怕得打顫。
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 虛浮的人啊!你願意知道信德沒有行為是無用的嗎?
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 我們的祖宗亞巴郎,把他的兒子依撒格獻在祭壇上,不是由於行為而成為義人的嗎?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 你看,他的信德是和他的行為合作,並且這信德由於行為纔得以成全,
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 這就應驗了經上所說的:『亞巴郎相信了天主,因而這事為他便算是正義,』得被稱為『天主的朋友。』
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 接待使者,從別的路上將他們放走的辣哈布妓女,不也是同樣因行為而成義的嗎?
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 正如身體沒有靈魂是死的,同樣信德沒有行為也是死的。
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.