< James 1 >

1 This letter comes from James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is sent to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. Best wishes to you!
这封信来自上帝和主耶稣基督的仆人雅各,写给散落在各国的十二支派。在此向你们问候!
2 My friends, choose to stay happy even when all kinds of troubles come your way,
我的朋友们,当你们遭遇各种困难时,请选择保持欢喜;
3 because you know that endurance comes from dealing with challenges to your trust in God.
因为你们知道,这些都是挑战你对上帝的信心,这个过程会产生忍耐。
4 Let your endurance become as strong as possible, so that you will be completely mature, without any shortcomings.
希望你们的忍耐尽可能强大,让你们可以彻底成熟,没有任何匮乏。
5 If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everyone without holding back.
你们如有人需要智慧,就询问上帝,他慷慨厚赐众人,从无保留。
6 But when you ask, remember to trust in God—don't have any doubts. Someone who doubts is like the crashing waves of the sea, tossed about and driven by the wind.
但要凭着对他的信念祈求他,不要有疑惑。疑惑之人,正如被风吹拂翻腾的碎浪。
7 Nobody like that should think they'll get anything from the Lord—
那样的人别想从主那里获得什么——
8 their minds think every which way, and they're unstable in whatever they do.
因为这样三心两意之人,在所有道路上都会摇摆不定。
9 Believers who are born poor should take pride in the high position they've been given,
出身贫穷的信徒,应当以赐予他们的高位为荣;
10 while the rich should “boast” in the humble position they now have, since they will fade away like flowers in the field.
富足之人也不应该以谦卑之位为辱;因为他们会向田野中的花,必会枯萎。
11 For the sun rises along with the blistering wind and scorches the grass. The flowers fall and their beauty is marred. Everything the rich achieve will fade in just the same way.
太阳出来,热风一吹,草就会枯干,花必凋谢,它的美也会消散;富足之人也会以同样方式失去所获得的一切。
12 Happy is anyone who patiently endures temptation, for when they've proved that they are trustworthy, they will receive the crown of life which God promises to those who love him.
能忍受磨炼之人是有福的;因为在证明其值得信赖后,他们必会获得生命的王冠,这是主向爱他之人做出的承诺。
13 Nobody should say when they're tempted, “I'm being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.
一个人在被试探时不可说“上帝在试探我”;因为上帝无法被恶试探,他也不会试探任何人。
14 Temptations come from our own evil desires that lead us astray and entrap us.
这试探来自我们自己的邪恶欲望,它让我们迷失,给我们设下陷阱。
15 Such desires lead to sin, and sin, when it's fully developed, causes death.
这样的欲望会生出罪;罪成长后就成为死亡。
16 My dear friends, don't be deceived.
我亲爱的朋友们,不要被欺骗。
17 All that's good, every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down from the Father who made heaven's lights. Unlike them he doesn't change—he doesn't vary or cause shadows.
所有的美好、所有完美的礼物,都是来自上面,并从创造太阳、月亮和星星的父那里下,与他们不同的是,他不会改变,他不会动摇或产生阴影。
18 He chose to give us new life through the word of truth, so that out of all his creation we would be very special to him.
他选择通过真理之道给我们新生命,通过这种方式,在他所创造的万物中,我们对他才会如此特别。
19 Remember this, my dear friends: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and slow to get angry,
我亲爱的朋友们,请记住,人人都应该快速聆听,但要慢慢地说,慢一点动怒;
20 because human anger doesn't reflect the good character of God.
因为人的愤怒无法体现上帝的良善特征。
21 So get rid of all that's filthy and evil. Humbly accept the word that's been implanted within you—for this is what can save you.
所以要摆脱一切污秽和邪恶,谦卑地接受植入你们心中的道,因为这道能拯救你们。
22 But do what the word says—don't just listen to it and delude yourselves.
你们的行为应该遵守道的指示,不要只是听,不要自己欺骗自己;
23 If you just listen to the word, and don't act on it, it's like staring at your own face in a mirror.
如果你只去听道而不践行,就像盯着镜子中自己的脸。
24 You see yourself, but then you leave, and immediately forget what you looked like.
你看到了自己,但走开后,马上就忘记自己的样子。
25 But if you look to the perfect law of freedom and follow it, not as someone who just listens and then forgets, but as someone who acts on it—then you will be blessed in what you do.
但如果你仔细研究那让人自由的完美律法,遵守它,不像有些人那样只是听听,然后就忘记了,而是要在行动中遵守它,这样你就会因自己的行为而受到祝福。
26 If you think you're religious, but don't control what you say, you deceive yourself—your religion is pointless.
如果你认为自己很虔诚,却不约束自己的语言,就是自己欺骗自己,你的虔诚毫无用处。
27 In the eyes of our God and Father, religion that's pure and genuine is to visit orphans and widows in their suffering, and to keep yourself from being contaminated by the world.
在我们的天父上帝眼中,纯洁而真诚的虔诚,就像去造访患难中的孤儿寡妇,要保护自己不被世俗所污染。

< James 1 >