James 2
1 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, in a partial respect of persons.
Ndugu zangu, mkiwa mnamwamini Bwana Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, msiwabague watu kamwe.
2 For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring in fine clothes, and there come in also a poor man in a mean habit;
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 ye turn your eyes toward him that weareth the fine clothes, and say to him, Sit thou here in an honorable place; and say to the poor man, Stand thou 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 do ye not make a partial difference within yourselves, and become judges that reason wickedly?
je, huo si ubaguzi kati yenu? Je, na huo uamuzi wenu haujatokana na fikira mbaya?
5 Hear, my beloved brethren; hath not God chosen the poor of this world who are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which He hath promised to them that love Him? but ye have slighted the poor.
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 Do not the rich tyrannize over you; and drag you to their tribunals?
Lakini ninyi mnawadharau watu maskini! Je, matajiri si ndio wanaowakandamizeni na kuwapeleka mahakamani?
7 Do they not blaspheme the glorious name by which ye are called?
Je, si haohao wanaolitukana hilo jina lenu zuri mlilopewa?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, which saith, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye 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 ye partially respect persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
Lakini mkiwabagua watu, basi, mwatenda dhambi, nayo Sheria inawahukumu ninyi kuwa mna hatia.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law besides, but offend in one point, he is under the penalty of 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 if thou do not commit adultery, but committest murder, thou art a transgressor of the 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 are to be judged by the law of liberty.
Basi, semeni na kutenda kama watu watakaohukumiwa kwa sheria iletayo uhuru.
13 For he shall have judgement without mercy, that hath not shewn mercy: but mercy triumpheth over judgement.
Maana, Mungu hatakuwa na huruma atakapomhukumu mtu asiyekuwa na huruma. Lakini huruma hushinda hukumu.
14 What is the advantage, my brethren, if any one say that he has faith, and he hath not works, can faith alone 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 one of you say to them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and be ye filled: but ye give them not the necessaries of life, what profit is it to them?
Yafaa kitu gani ninyi kuwaambia hao: “Nendeni salama mkaote moto na kushiba,” bila kuwapatia mahitaji yao ya maisha?
17 so faith, if it have not works, being alone, is dead.
Vivyo hivyo, imani peke yake bila matendo imekufa.
18 But one may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith by thy works, and I will shew thee 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 Thou believest that there is one God; thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Je, wewe unaamini kwamba yuko Mungu mmoja? Sawa! Lakini hata pepo huamini hilo, na hutetemeka kwa hofu.
20 But desirest thou to know, O vain man, that faith without works, is dead?
Mpumbavu wee! Je, wataka kuonyeshwa kwamba imani bila matendo imekufa?
21 consider, Was not our father Abraham justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
Je, Abrahamu baba yetu alipataje kukubalika mbele yake Mungu? Kwa matendo yake, wakati alipomtoa mwanae Isaka sadaka juu ya madhabahu.
22 Thou seest that faith co-operated with his works, and that by his works his faith was perfected.
Waona basi, kwamba imani yake iliandamana na matendo yake; imani yake ilikamilishwa kwa matendo yake.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, 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 Ye see then 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 And in like manner also was not the harlot Rahab justified by works, when she entertained the spies, and let 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.
