James 2
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons.
Nɔvinye lɔlɔ̃awo, abe ame si xɔ míaƒe ŋutikɔkɔe ƒe Aƒetɔ, Yesu Kristo dzi se ene la, migakpɔ ame ŋkume o.
2 For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,
Mítsɔe be ame aɖe va míaƒe ƒuƒoƒe, eye wòde sikasigɛ nyuitɔ, heta avɔ xɔasi, eye ame dahe si do awu vuvu hã ge ɖe sɔlemexɔa me.
3 And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:
Ne mietsɔ bubu tɔxɛ na ame si do awu xɔasi hegblɔ nɛ be, “Va nɔ teƒe nyui sia,” gake miegblɔ na ame dahe la be, “Wò ya nɔ tsitre ɖe afi ma” alo “Nɔ anyigba le nye afɔ nu” la,
4 Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?
ɖe miede vovototo ameawo me le mia dome, eye miezu ʋɔnudrɔ̃la siwo me susu vɔ̃ɖiwo le o mahã?
5 Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?
Nɔvinye lɔlɔ̃awo, miɖo tom: Ɖe Mawu metia ame siwo xexemetɔwo buna be wonye ame dahewo la be woanye kesinɔtɔwo le xɔse me, eye be woanyi fiaɖuƒe si ŋugbe wòdo na ame siwo lɔ̃nɛ la ƒe dome o mahã?
6 But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats?
Ke miawo la, miedoa vlo ame dahewo. Ɖe menye kesinɔtɔwoe le mia bam oa? Alo menye woawo kee hea mi yia ʋɔnudrɔ̃ƒewo o mahã?
7 Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?
Ɖe menye woawoe le ɖi ƒom ame si ŋu bubuŋkɔ le, ame si tɔ mienye la oa?
8 If then you fulfill the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.
Ne mielé sedede si le mawunya me, esi gblɔ be, “Lɔ̃ hawòvi abe wò ŋutɔ ɖokuiwò ene” ɖe asi la, miele nu dzɔdzɔetɔ wɔm.
9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.
Ke ne miele ame ŋkume kpɔm la, miewɔ nu vɔ̃, eye se la bu fɔ mi be mienye sedzidalawo.
10 And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all.
Ame si wɔa Mawu ƒe sewo katã dzi, gake wòda le ɖeka pɛ dzi la, eda le wo katã dzi,
11 For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
elabena ame si de se be, “Mègawɔ ahasi o” la, eya kee de se be, “Mègawu ame o.” Eya ta ne mèwɔ ahasi o, gake nèwu ame la, ènye sedzidala.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.
Miaƒe nuƒo kple agbenɔnɔ naɖee fia be wole ʋɔnu drɔ̃ ge mi kple se si naa ablɔɖe.
13 For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.
Elabena ʋɔnudɔdrɔ̃ si me nublanuikpɔkpɔ mele o la woatsɔ na ame si mekpɔa nublanui o. Nublanuikpɔkpɔ ɖua ʋɔnudɔdrɔ̃ dzi.
14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?
Nɔvinye lɔlɔ̃awo, viɖe ka wòanye ne ame aɖe gblɔ be xɔse le ye si, evɔ la, dɔwɔwɔ mekpe ɖe eŋu o? Ɖe xɔse sia tɔgbi ate ŋu aɖeea?
15 And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food:
Mítsɔe be nɔviŋutsu alo nɔvinyɔnu aɖe li, esi si avɔ kple gbe sia gbe ƒe nuɖuɖu mele o.
16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?
Ne mia dometɔ aɖe agblɔ nɛ be, “Heyi le ŋutifafa me, naƒu dzo, eye nàɖi ƒo nyuie,” evɔ mehewɔ naneke le eƒe ŋutilãmehiahiãwo ŋuti o la, viɖe kae wònye?
17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
Nenema kee nye xɔse ŋutɔ hã. Ne dɔwɔwɔ mekpe ɖe eŋu o la, enye nu kuku.
18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.
Ke ame aɖe agblɔ dzideƒotɔe be, “Wò la, xɔse le asiwò, ke nye la, dɔwɔwɔwo le asinye.” Fia wò xɔse si ŋu dɔwɔwɔwo mekpe ɖo o lam, eye nye hã maɖe nye xɔse afia wò to dɔ siwo mewɔna la me.
19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Èxɔe se be Mawu ɖeka koe li. Enyo, gake gbɔgbɔ vɔ̃wo hã xɔe se nenema, eye wodzona nyanyanya kple vɔvɔ̃.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Wò bometsila, ɖe nèle kakaɖedzi dim hafi anya be xɔse dɔwɔwɔ manɔmee nye xɔse kukua?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?
Ɖe womebu mía tɔgbui Abraham be enye dzɔdzɔetɔ le nu si wòwɔ, esi wòtsɔ via Isak be yeasa vɔe na Mawu oa?
22 Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect?
Edze ƒãa be xɔse wɔ dɔ kpe ɖe eƒe dɔwɔwɔwo ŋu, ale be eƒe xɔse de blibo to nu si wòwɔ la me.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.
Esia wɔ ɖe mawunya si gblɔ be, “Abraham xɔ Mawu dzi se, eye wobui dzɔdzɔenyenye nɛ” la dzi, eye woyɔe be Mawu xɔlɔ̃.
24 Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?
Edze ƒãa be menye ame ƒe xɔse ɖeɖe koe wotsɔna tsoa afia nɛ o, ke boŋ dɔ siwo wòwɔ hã kpena ɖe eŋu.
25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?
Nenema ke, ɖe womebu Rahab gbolo la gɔ̃ hã be enye dzɔdzɔetɔ le nu si wòwɔ, esi wòɣla ŋkutsala siwo dze egbɔ, eye wòna woto mɔ bubu dzo oa?
26 For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.
Ale si ŋutilã gbɔgbɔmanɔmee nye nu kuku la, nenema ke xɔse dɔwɔwɔ manɔmee hã nye nu kuku.
