< James 2 >

1 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord of glory, Jesus Christ, with respect of persons.
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。
2 For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in splendid apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment,
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,
3 and ye have respect to him that weareth the splendid apparel, and say, Sit thou here in a good place, and say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or, Sit under my footstool,
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」!
4 have ye not been partial among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
這豈不是你們自己立定區別,而按偏邪的心思判斷人嗎?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren. Did not God choose the poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
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?
6 but ye have despised the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do not they drag you before the judgment-seats?
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?
7 Do not they blaspheme the worthy name by which ye are called?
豈不是他們辱罵你們被稱的美名嗎?
8 If indeed ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” ye do well.
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;
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
但若你們按外貌待人,那就是犯罪,就被法律指證為犯法者,
10 For whoever hath kept the whole law, and yet hath offended in one point, hath become guilty of all.
因為誰若遵守全部法律,但只觸犯了一條,就算是全犯了,
11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” said also, “Do not kill.” Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou hast become a transgressor of the law.
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。
12 So speak, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
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!
13 For the judgment shall be without mercy to him that showed no mercy. Mercy glorieth against judgment.
因為對不行憐憫的人,審判時也沒有憐憫;憐憫必得勝審判。
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, if any one say that he hath faith, and have not works? Can his faith save him?
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?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
假設有弟兄或姐妹赤身露體,且缺少日用糧,
16 and one of you say to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and be filled, notwithstanding ye give them not the things needful for the body, what doth it profit?
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?
17 So also faith, if it hath not works, is dead in itself.
信德也是這樣:若沒有行為,自身便是死的。
18 But some one will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; show me thy faith without works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
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。
19 Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well; the demons also believe, and tremble.
你信只有一個天主嗎!你信得對,連魔鬼也信,且怕得打顫。
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is idle?
虛浮的人啊!你願意知道信德沒有行為是無用的嗎?
21 Was not Abraham our father accepted as righteous through works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
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?
22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect.
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,
23 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness;” and he was called the friend of God.
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。』
24 Ye see that by works a man is accounted as righteous, and not by faith only.
你們看,人成義是由於行為,不僅是由於信德。
25 And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot accounted as righteous through works, when she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
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?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
正如身體沒有靈魂是死的,同樣信德沒有行為也是死的。

< James 2 >