James 2
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, so as to show a partiality for persons.
Ndugu zangu, mkiwa mnamwamini Bwana Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, msiwabague watu kamwe.
2 For if there comes into your assembly a man in splendid apparel, and with gold rings on his fingers, and there comes in also a poor man, in mean clothing,
Tuseme mtu mmoja ambaye amevaa pete ya dhahabu na mavazi nadhifu anaingia katika mkutano wenu, na papo hapo akaingia mtu maskini aliyevaa mavazi machafu.
3 and you show regard to him that wears the splendid apparel, and say to him, Sit here, in an honorable place; and you say to the poor man, Do you stand there, or sit here, under my footstool;
Ikiwa mtamstahi zaidi yule aliyevaa mavazi ya kuvutia na kumwambia: “Keti hapa mahali pazuri,” na kumwambia yule maskini: “Wewe, simama huko,” au “Keti hapa sakafuni miguuni pangu,”
4 are you not partial in yourselves? and do you not judge from false principles?
je, huo si ubaguzi kati yenu? Je, na huo uamuzi wenu haujatokana na fikira mbaya?
5 Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him?
Ndugu zangu wapenzi, sikilizeni! Mungu amechagua watu ambao ni maskini katika ulimwengu huu ili wapate kuwa matajiri katika imani na kupokea Utawala aliowaahidia wale wanaompenda.
6 But you dishonor the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not themselves drag you to the judgment-seats?
Lakini ninyi mnawadharau watu maskini! Je, matajiri si ndio wanaowakandamizeni na kuwapeleka mahakamani?
7 Do they not themselves revile that honorable name which is called upon you?
Je, si haohao wanaolitukana hilo jina lenu zuri mlilopewa?
8 If, however, you fulfill the law of highest excellence, according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well.
Kama mnaitimiza ile sheria ya Utawala kama ilivyoandikwa katika Maandiko Matakatifu: “Mpende binadamu mwenzako kama unavyojipenda wewe mwenyewe”, mtakuwa mnafanya vema kabisa.
9 But if you show partiality for persons, you work sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Lakini mkiwabagua watu, basi, mwatenda dhambi, nayo Sheria inawahukumu ninyi kuwa mna hatia.
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet fail in one, is an offender against all.
Anayevunja amri mojawapo ya Sheria, atakuwa na hatia ya kuivunja Sheria yote.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, though you do not commit adultery, yet, if you kill, you are a transgresssor of law.
Maana yuleyule aliyesema: “Usizini,” alisema pia “Usiue”. Kwa hiyo, hata ikiwa hukuzini lakini umeua, wewe umeivunja Sheria.
12 So speak, and so act, as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Basi, semeni na kutenda kama watu watakaohukumiwa kwa sheria iletayo uhuru.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, who has shown no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.
Maana, Mungu hatakuwa na huruma atakapomhukumu mtu asiyekuwa na huruma. Lakini huruma hushinda hukumu.
14 What profit is there, my brethren, if any one say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
Ndugu zangu, kuna faida gani mtu kusema ana imani, lakini haonyeshi kwa vitendo? Je, hiyo imani yawezaje kumwokoa?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Tuseme kaka au dada hana nguo au chakula.
16 and any of you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet give them not the things that are needful for the body, what does this profit them?
Yafaa kitu gani ninyi kuwaambia hao: “Nendeni salama mkaote moto na kushiba,” bila kuwapatia mahitaji yao ya maisha?
17 So, also, faith, if it has not works, is dead, being by itself.
Vivyo hivyo, imani peke yake bila matendo imekufa.
18 But some one will say, You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith by your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Lakini mtu anaweza kusema: “Wewe unayo imani, mimi ninayo matendo!” Haya! Nionyeshe jinsi mtu anavyoweza kuwa na imani bila matendo, nami nitakuonyesha imani yangu kwa matendo yangu.
19 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.
Je, wewe unaamini kwamba yuko Mungu mmoja? Sawa! Lakini hata pepo huamini hilo, na hutetemeka kwa hofu.
20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Mpumbavu wee! Je, wataka kuonyeshwa kwamba imani bila matendo imekufa?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
Je, Abrahamu baba yetu alipataje kukubalika mbele yake Mungu? Kwa matendo yake, wakati alipomtoa mwanae Isaka sadaka juu ya madhabahu.
22 Do you see that faith was the moving principle in his works, and by works his faith was made perfect?
Waona basi, kwamba imani yake iliandamana na matendo yake; imani yake ilikamilishwa kwa matendo yake.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.
Hivyo yakatimia yale Maandiko Matakatifu yasemayo: “Abrahamu alimwamini Mungu na kwa imani yake akakubaliwa kuwa mtu mwadilifu; na hivyo Abrahamu akaitwa rafiki wa Mungu.”
24 Do you see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only?
Mnaona basi, kwamba mtu hukubaliwa kuwa mwadilifu kwa matendo yake na si kwa imani peke yake.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
Ilikuwa vivyo hivyo kuhusu yule malaya Rahabu; yeye alikubaliwa kuwa mwadilifu kwa sababu aliwapokea wale wapelelezi na kuwasaidia waende zao kwa kupitia njia nyingine.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Basi, kama vile mwili bila roho umekufa, vivyo hivyo imani bila matendo imekufa.
