James 1
1 [I], James, am a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. [I am writing this letter] to [all] the Jewish people [who trust in Christ] (OR, to all God’s people) who are scattered throughout the world. [I send my] greetings to [you all].
ⲁ̅ⲓⲁⲕⲱⲃⲟⲥ ⳿ⲫⲃⲱⲕ ⳿ⲙⲫϯ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲉⲛ⳪ Ⲓⲏ̅ⲥ̅ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⳿ⲛϯⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⳿ⲙⲫⲩⲗⲏ ⲉⲧⲭⲏ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓϫⲱⲣ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲭⲉⲣⲉ.
2 My fellow believers, rejoice greatly, [even] when you experience various kinds of difficulties/troubles.
ⲃ̅ϣⲱⲡⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲣⲁϣⲓ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲛⲁ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲉϣⲱⲡ ⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛϣⲁⲛⲣⲁⲟⲩ⳿ⲟ ⳿ⲉϩⲁⲛⲡⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲑⲟ ⳿ⲛⲣⲏϯ.
3 [God sometimes allows you to experience difficulties in order to] test whether or not you will continue to trust [him. Whenever that happens, you need to] realize more and more that [if you continue to trust him], you will be able to bravely/patiently endure difficulties.
ⲅ̅ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ϫⲉ ϯⲇⲟⲕⲓⲙⲏ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲛⲁϩϯ ⲁⲥⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⳿ⲉⲟⲩϩⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ.
4 Keep on enduring difficulties [bravely/patiently by trusting God more and more firmly] [PRS], in order that you may become all that he intends you to be [DOU] (OR, [spiritually] mature and complete), not lacking (any [good quality/anything you need to conduct your lives as God wants you to]).
ⲇ̅ϯϩⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲉ ⲟⲩϩⲱⲃ ⲉϥϫⲏⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϣⲱⲡⲓ ⳿ⲛϧⲏⲧⲥ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲏⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲟϫ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲟⲣϩ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲗⲓ ⲁⲛ.
5 If anyone of you does not know how to act wisely [in order to endure difficulties/trials well], he should ask God [to show him what he should do, because] God wholeheartedly/gladly helps all people [who ask] and does not scold [anyone for asking. Those who ask], God will give them wisdom to know [what they should do].
ⲉ̅ⲓⲥϫⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲉϥϫⲟⲣϩ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲥⲃⲱ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲉⲣⲉⲧⲓⲛ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲛ ⲫϯ ⲫⲏⲉⲧϯ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲁⲡⲗⲱⲥ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϥϣⲱϣϥ ⲁⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲩ⳿ⲉϯ ⲛⲁϥ.
6 But [when you] ask [God], you should firmly trust him. You should not doubt [that he wants to help you always], because people who keep doubting God are [unstable/changeable] [SIM] like a wave of the sea that is blown back and forth by the wind {that goes back and forth when the wind blows} [DOU, SIM].
ⲋ̅ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲉⲣⲉⲧⲓⲛ ⲇⲉ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲁϩϯ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲃ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲫⲏ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲃ̅ ⲁϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲛⲛⲓϫⲟⲗ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲉⲣⲉ ⳿ⲡⲑⲏⲟⲩ ϭⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉϥ⳿ⲓⲛⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲟⲩ.
7 Indeed, people [who doubt] should not think that the Lord [God] will do anything [that they request him to do],
ⲍ̅⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲛ⳿ⲑⲣⲉϥⲙⲉⲩⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲁϥ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⳿ⲉⲧⲉ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ϫⲉ ⳿ϥⲛⲁϭⲓ ⳿ϩⲗⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲟⲧϥ ⳿ⲙⲠ⳪.
8 [because they are] people who cannot decide [whether they will commit themselves to God, and they are] unstable/undecided in everything that they do.
ⲏ̅ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲃ̅ ⲟⲩⲁⲧⲥⲉⲙⲛⲓ ⲡⲉ ϩⲓ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲱⲓⲧ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ.
9 Believers who are poor should be happy [that God] considers them very valuable (OR, has exalted them [spiritually]) [MTY].
ⲑ̅ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲑⲉⲃⲏⲟⲩⲧ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉϥϭⲓⲥⲓ.
10 And [believers] who are rich should be happy [that] they have humbled themselves [in order to trust in Jesus Christ] (OR, but rich people [can only] take pride [in the fact that God] will humble them [when he judges everyone] [IRO]), because they [and their riches] [MTY] will pass away, just like wild flowers [wither] [SIM].
ⲓ̅ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲙⲁ⳿ⲟ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉϥⲑⲉⲃⲓⲟ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲣⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲥⲱⲟⲩⲃⲉⲛ ⳿ϥⲛⲁⲥⲓⲛⲓ.
11 When the sun rises, the scorching hot wind dries plants, and their flowers fall and are no longer beautiful. Similarly, rich people will die [MET] while they are busy working, [leaving behind their riches].
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲁϥϣⲁⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⳿ⲫⲣⲏ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲕⲁⲩⲥⲱⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁϥ⳿ⲧϣⲟⲩⲓ⳿ⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲱⲟⲩⲃⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲧⲉϥ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲣⲓ ⲁⲥϥⲟⲣϥⲉⲣ ⳿ⲡⲥⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥϩⲟ ⲁϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ϩⲱϥ ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲙⲁ⳿ⲟ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲱⲓⲧ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⳿ϥⲛⲁⲗⲱⲙ.
12 [God] is pleased with people who bravely/patiently endure difficulties. And when, [by bravely enduring difficulties], they have proved [that they truly trust him], he will give them [eternal] life. That is the reward [MET] that he has promised to give to those who love him.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲫⲏⲉⲑⲛⲁ⳿ⲁⲙⲟⲛⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲟⲧϥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁϥϣⲁⲛⲉⲣ ⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲡ ⳿ϥⲛⲁϭⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓ⳿ⲭⲗⲟⲙ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲡⲱⲛϧ ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲁϥⲱϣ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲛⲛⲏⲉⲑⲛⲁⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧϥ.
13 If people are tempted to do something that is evil, they should not think that it is God who is tempting them, because [God is totally/completely good]. He never tempts anyone [to do what is evil], nor can he ever be tempted to [do anything] evil.
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲛ⳿ⲑⲣⲉ ⳿ϩⲗⲓ ϫⲟⲥ ⲉⲩⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲫϯ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲫϯ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ϥⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⲁⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ϩⲁⲛⲡⲉⲧϩⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ϥⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲗⲓ ⲁⲛ.
14 But people strongly desire to do evil [PRS] things, [and as a result] they are tempted by those desires {those desires stimulate them} to do something evil [PRS, DOU].
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲉⲩⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⳿ⲙⲙⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲥⲥⲱⲕ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲥⲥⲟⲡⲥⲉⲡ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ.
15 Then, [because] they have desired [MET] to do evil [PRS] things, they begin to [MET] do [PRS] them. And when they have become ones who [habitually] do what is evil [MET], [if they do not turn away from their sinful behavior], they will be separated from God forever.
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲓⲧⲁ ϯⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⲁⲥϣⲁⲛⲉⲣⲃⲟⲕⲓ ϣⲁⲥⲙⲉⲥ ⳿ⲫⲛⲟⲃⲓ ⳿ⲫⲛⲟⲃⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥϣⲁⲛϫⲱⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϣⲁϥ⳿ϫⲫⲟ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲙⲟⲩ.
16 My fellow believers whom I love, stop deceiving yourselves, [thinking that God does evil things].
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲣⲥⲱⲣⲉⲙ ⲛⲁ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲛⲣⲁϯ.
17 [The truth is that God], our heavenly Father [MTY], does only good [DOU] things [for us, in order to help us become] all that he intends us to be. He is not like all the things [in the sky] that he created to give light, [because they] change; [that is, they do not shine the same all the time]. But God never changes. [He is always good].
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲧⲁⲓⲟ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲉⲑⲛⲁⲛⲉⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲉⲧϫⲏⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁⲛ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲡϣⲱⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲉⲩⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲫⲓⲱⲧ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲉ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ϣⲓⲃϯ ⲛⲁϩⲣⲁϥ ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲟⲩ⳿ⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲟⲩϧⲏⲓⲃⲓ ⳿ⲉⲁⲥⲥⲓⲛⲓ.
18 [And because] he wanted [to help us], he gave us [spiritual] life as a result of our [trusting in his] true message. So now we have become the first ones of [all the people] [MET] that he created [to] ([be totally dedicated to/completely belong to]) [him].
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲁϥ⳿ϫⲫⲟⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲡⲥⲁϫⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓ ⲉⲑⲣⲉⲛϣⲱⲡⲓ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲁⲡⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲛⲧ.
19 My fellow believers whom I love, you know (OR, I want you to now) that every one of you should be eager to pay attention to [God’s true message]. Don’t speak [without thinking], nor get angry easily,
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲧⲉⲛⲥⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲛⲣⲁϯ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲉϥⲓⲏⲥ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲉϥϩⲟⲣϣ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲉϥ⳿ϩⲣⲟϣ ⲉϥⲛⲁϫⲱⲛⲧ.
20 because when any one [of you gets] angry, you will not be doing the righteous things that God [wants] you [to do].
ⲕ̅⳿ⲡϫⲱⲛⲧ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁϥⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⳿ⲉϯⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲫϯ.
21 So stop doing all kinds of evil [DOU] things, and humbly obey (OR, submit to) the message that [God] put in your (inner beings/hearts), [because] he is able to save you [SYN] [if you accept his message].
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲉⲑⲃⲉⲫⲁⲓ ⲭⲁ ⲑⲱⲗⲉⲃ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϧⲣⲏⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ⳿ⲡϩⲟⲩ⳿ⲟ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲕⲁⲕⲓⲁ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉⲙⲣⲁⲩϣ ϣⲉⲡ ⲡⲓⲥⲁϫⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⲉϥⲣⲏⲧ ⳿ⲙⲃⲉⲣⲓ ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⳿ϣϫⲟⲙ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲉⲛⲟϩⲉⲙ ⳿ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏ.
22 Do [what God commands in] his message. Do not only listen [to it, because people who only listen to it and do not obey it] are wrong when they think [that God will save them].
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲣⲉϥ⳿ⲓⲣⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲣⲉϥϭⲓ⳿ⲥⲙⲏ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ ⲁⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲉⲣϩⲁⲗ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ.
23 Some people hear God’s message but do not do [what it says] [MET]. They are like someone who looks at his face in a mirror [SIM].
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉϥϭⲓ⳿ⲥⲙⲏ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲁϥⲟⲛⲓ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⳿ⲉⲁϥϯ⳿ⲛⲓⲁⲧϥ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲡϩⲟ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥϫⲓⲛⲙⲓⲥⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲓⲁⲗ.
24 Although he looks at himself, he goes away [from the mirror] and immediately forgets what he looks like.
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲁϥϯ⳿ⲛⲓⲁⲧϥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁϥϣⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲥⲁⲧⲟⲧϥ ⲁϥⲉⲣ⳿ⲡⲱⲃϣ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲉⲛⲁϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ.
25 But other people look closely at [God’s] message, which is perfect and which sets people free [to voluntarily do what God wants them to do]. And if they continue [to examine God’s message] and do not just hear it and then forget it, but do [what God tells them to do], God will bless them because of what they do.
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲫⲏ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲁϥⲥⲟⲙⲥ ⳿ⲥ⳿ⲫⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϫⲏⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲛϯⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉⲙϩⲉ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉϥⲟϩⲓ ⳿ⲛϧⲏⲧϥ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁϥⲉⲣⲣⲉϥϭⲓ⳿ⲥⲙⲏ ⳿ⲛⲣⲉϥⲉⲣ⳿ⲡⲱⲃϣ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⳿ⲛⲣⲉϥ⳿ⲓⲣⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓϩⲱⲃ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉϥ⳿ⲉⲉⲣ ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲉϥ⳿ⲓⲣⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ.
26 Some people think that they worship God in the right way, but they habitually say evil things [MTY]. Those people are wrong in thinking [SYN] [that they worship God rightly]. The fact is [that they] worship God (in vain/uselessly).
ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ⲫⲏ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲑⲩⲙⲉⲩⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϥϭⲓⲭⲁⲗⲓⲛⲟⲩⲥ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲁϥⲉⲣϩⲁⲗ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲟⲩⲉⲫⲗⲏⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲡϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⳿ⲙⲫⲁⲓ.
27 [One of the things that God has told us to do] is to take care of orphans and widows who suffer hardship. [Those who do that and] who do not think or act immorally like those who do not obey God [MTY] truly [DOU] worship God, [who is our] Father, and God approves of them.
ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ⲡⲓϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲁⲧⲑⲱⲗⲉⲃ ϧⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⲫϯ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲫⲓⲱⲧ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲉϫⲉⲙ⳿ⲡϣⲓⲛⲓ ⳿ⲛⲛⲓⲟⲣⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲓⲭⲏⲣⲁ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϧⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲟⲩϩⲟϫϩⲉϫ ⳿ⲉⲁⲣⲉϩ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲁⲧⲁϭ ⲛⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁ ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ
