< ⲒⲀⲔⲰⲂⲞⲤ 1 >
1 ⲁ̅ ⲓⲁⲕⲱⲃⲟⲥ ⲡϩⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲓⲏⲥ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲉϥⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲙⲛⲧⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ ⲙⲫⲩⲗⲏ ⲉⲧϩⲉⲛ ⲧⲇⲓⲁⲥⲡⲟⲣⲁ ⲭⲁⲓⲣⲉⲧⲉ
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the twelve tribes that are living abroad.
2 ⲃ̅ ⲟⲡϥ ⲉⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲁⲛⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲛⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲩϣⲟⲃⲉ
My friends, whatever trials you may face from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing,
3 ⲅ̅ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ϫⲉ ⲇⲟⲕⲓⲙⲏ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲉⲥⲣ ϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲩϩⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ
knowing, as you do, that the testing of your faith develops endurance.
4 ⲇ̅ ⲑⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲩⲟⲩⲛⲧⲁⲥ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲛⲟⲩϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲧⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲗⲉⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲁⲁⲧ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ
And let endurance do its work perfectly, so that you may be altogether perfect, and in no respect lacking.
5 ⲉ̅ ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ ⲟⲩⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ϣⲁⲁⲧ ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲧϯ ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲁⲡⲗⲱⲥ ⲛϥⲛⲟϭⲛⲉϭ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ϥⲛⲁϯ ⲛⲁϥ
If any one of you lacks wisdom, they should ask wisdom from the God who gives freely to everyone without reproach, and it will be given to them.
6 ⲋ̅ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲛϥⲇⲓⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲇⲓⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉϥⲟ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϩⲟⲉⲓⲙ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲧⲏⲩ ⲣⲱϩⲧ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉϥϣⲱⲱϭⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ
But they should ask with confidence, never doubting; for the person who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven here and there at the mercy of the wind –
7 ⲍ̅ ⲙⲡⲉⲣⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ ϫⲉ ϥⲛⲁϫⲓ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
Such a person must not expect that they will receive anything from the Lord,
8 ⲏ̅ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ ϥϣⲧⲣⲧⲱⲣ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ
vacillating as they are, irresolute at every turn.
9 ⲑ̅ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲥⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲑⲃⲃⲓⲉⲏⲩ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϥϫⲓⲥⲉ
Let a follower in humble circumstances be proud of their exalted position,
10 ⲓ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲣⲙⲁⲟ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϥⲑⲃⲃⲓⲟ ϫⲉ ϥⲛⲁⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲛⲟⲩϩⲣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛⲭⲟⲣⲧⲟⲥ
but a rich follower of their humiliation; for the rich will pass away like a wild flower.
11 ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⲁϥϣⲁ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲣⲏ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲕⲁⲩⲙⲁ ⲁϥⲧⲣⲉ ⲡⲉⲭⲟⲣⲧⲟⲥ ϣⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉϥϩⲣⲏⲣⲉ ⲁϥⲥⲣⲟϥⲣⲉϥ ⲡⲥⲁ ⲙⲡⲉϥϩⲟ ⲁϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲧⲁⲓ ϩⲱⲱϥ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲑⲉ ⲙⲡⲣⲙⲁⲟ ⲉϥⲛⲁϩⲱϭⲉⲃ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ
As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, the plant withers, its flower fades, and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich. In the midst of their pursuits they will wither away.
12 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⲛⲁⲓⲁⲧϥ ⲉⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲛⲁϥⲉⲓ ϩⲁ ⲟⲩⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲥⲱⲡⲧ ϥⲛⲁϫⲓ ⲙⲡⲉⲕⲗⲟⲙ ⲙⲡⲱⲛϩ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲙⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ
Blessed is the person who remains firm under temptation, for, when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ ⲙⲡⲉⲣⲧⲉ ⲗⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲉⲩⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲉϥⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲡⲡⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲉϥⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ
Let no one say, when they are tempted, “It is God who is tempting me!” For God, who cannot be tempted to do wrong, does not himself tempt anyone.
14 ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲩⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⲙⲙⲓⲛ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲩⲥⲱⲕ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲩⲁⲡⲁⲧⲁ ⲙⲙⲟϥ
A man is in every case tempted by their own passions – allured and enticed by them.
15 ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ ⲉⲓⲧⲁ ⲧⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⲁⲥⲱ ϣⲁⲥϫⲡⲟ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁϥⲙⲓⲥⲉ ⲙⲡⲙⲟⲩ
Then passion conceives and gives birth to sin, and sin, on reaching maturity, brings forth death.
16 ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ ⲡⲉⲣⲡⲗⲁⲛⲁ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉ
Do not be deceived, my dear friends.
17 ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ ϯⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲇⲟⲣⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲡⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲛⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧ ⲙⲙⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛϩⲁⲓⲃⲉⲥ ⲏ ϣⲓⲃⲉ ⲏ ⲣⲓⲕⲉ ϩⲁϩⲧⲏϥ
Every good thing given us, and every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down to us from the Father of the lights in the heavens, who is himself never subject to change or to eclipse.
18 ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲁϥϫⲡⲟ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲩⲁⲩⲡⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⲛⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲛⲧ
Because he so willed, he gave us life, through the message of the truth, so that we should be, as it were, a kind of first fruits of his creation.
19 ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉϥϭⲉⲡⲏ ⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉϥⲟⲥⲕ ⲉϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉϥϩⲟⲣϣ ⲛⲛⲟⲩϭⲥ
Mark this, my dear friends – Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry;
20 ⲕ̅ ⲧⲟⲣⲅⲏ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲙⲉⲥⲣ ϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
for human anger does not forward the righteous purpose of God.
21 ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲕⲱ ⲛⲥⲱⲧⲛ ⲛⲇⲱⲗⲙ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲙⲛ ⲕⲁⲕⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲛⲧⲣⲙⲣⲁϣ ϣⲱⲡ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲙⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲙⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ ϭⲟⲙ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩϫⲟ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲙⲯⲩⲭⲏ
Therefore, get rid of all filthiness and whatever wickedness still remains, and in a humble spirit receive that message which has been planted in your hearts and is able to save your souls.
22 ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲣⲉϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲙⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲡⲗⲁⲛⲁ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ
Put that message into practice, and do not merely listen to it – deceiving yourselves.
23 ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ ϫⲉ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲁ ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉϥⲧⲛⲧⲱⲛ ⲉⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲡϩⲟ ⲛⲧⲁⲩϫⲡⲟϥ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲁⲗ
For, when anyone listens to it and does not practice it, they are like a person looking at their own face in a mirror.
24 ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲣ ⲡⲱⲃϣ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲉϥⲟ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ
They look at themselves, then go on their way,
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϭⲱϣⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲙⲛⲧⲣⲉⲙⲛϩⲉ ⲁϥϭⲱ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲁⲛ ⲁϥⲣ ⲡⲱⲃϣ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲡⲁⲓ ϥⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲓⲁⲧϥ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϥϩⲱⲃ
but the person who looks carefully into the perfect Law, the Law of freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into practice – that person will be blessed in what they do.
26 ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ ⲡⲉⲧϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥϣⲙϣⲉ ⲛϥⲭⲁⲗⲓⲛⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲥ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉϥⲁⲡⲁⲧⲁ ⲙⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉϥϣⲙϣⲉ ϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ
When a person appears to be religious, yet does not bridle their tongue, but imposes on their own conscience, that person’s religious observances are valueless.
27 ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ ⲡϣⲙϣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲧⲟ ⲛⲛⲁⲇⲱⲗⲙ ⲛⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉϭⲙ ⲡϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲛⲟⲣⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲭⲏⲣⲁ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲩⲑⲗⲓⲯⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲇⲱⲗⲙ ϩⲙ ⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ
That religious observance which is pure and spotless in the eyes of God our Father is this – to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world.