Jake 1
1 Ngai Jake, mosali na Nzambe mpe na Nkolo Yesu-Klisto; Epai ya mabota zomi na mibale oyo epalangana kati na biloko: Napesi bino mbote.
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!
2 Bandeko na ngai, bomona lokola likambo ya esengo, lolenge nyonso ya komekama oyo bozali kokutana na yango.
My friends, choose to stay happy even when all kinds of troubles come your way,
3 Pamba te boyebi malamu ete komekama ya kondima na bino ebotaka kokanga motema.
because you know that endurance comes from dealing with challenges to your trust in God.
4 Nzokande kokanga motema na bino esengeli te kosuka na nzela mpo ete bokoma bato bakemba mpe bakoka kati na kondima, bato oyo bazangi pamela.
Let your endurance become as strong as possible, so that you will be completely mature, without any shortcomings.
5 Soki moko kati na bino azangi bwanya, tika ete asenga yango epai ya Nzambe oyo akopesa ye yango; pamba te Nzambe apesaka moto nyonso na motema malamu mpe na kopamela te.
If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everyone without holding back.
6 Kasi asengeli kosenga na kondima, na kotia tembe te; pamba te moto oyo atiaka tembe azali lokola mbonge ya ebale oyo mopepe ezali koningisa mpe kobwaka epai na epai.
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.
7 Moto ya ndenge wana atia motema te ete akoki kozwa eloko kowuta na Nkolo:
Nobody like that should think they'll get anything from the Lord—
8 azali moto ya mitema mibale, moto oyo akangamaka na likanisi moko te na nyonso oyo asalaka.
their minds think every which way, and they're unstable in whatever they do.
9 Tika ete ndeko oyo akelela asepela mpo ete Nzambe akotombola ye,
Believers who are born poor should take pride in the high position they've been given,
10 mpe oyo azali mozwi asepela mpo ete Nzambe akokitisa ye; pamba te mozwi akoleka lokola fololo ya elanga.
while the rich should “boast” in the humble position they now have, since they will fade away like flowers in the field.
11 Ndenge fololo ekawukaka, ekweyaka mpe ebungisaka kitoko na yango na tango ya moyi makasi, ndenge wana mpe mozwi akolimwa kati na misala na ye nyonso.
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.
12 Esengo na moto oyo akangaka motema na tango ya komekama! Pamba te sima na ye kolonga komekama, akozwa motole ya bomoi, oyo Nzambe alakaki na bato oyo balingaka Ye.
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.
13 Tika ete moto moko te, liboso ya komekama, aloba: « Nzambe nde azali kotindika ngai na kosala mabe. » Pamba te mabe ekoki te kotindika Nzambe na mabe, mpe Nzambe atindikaka moto moko te na kosala mabe.
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.
14 Kasi moto nyonso atindikamaka na mabe soki abendami mpe akangami na motambo ya baposa mabe ya nzoto na ye moko.
Temptations come from our own evil desires that lead us astray and entrap us.
15 Bongo soki baposa mabe yango ekoli kati na moto, ebotaka lisumu; mpe lisumu ememaka na kufa.
Such desires lead to sin, and sin, when it's fully developed, causes death.
16 Bandeko balingami, bomikosa te:
My dear friends, don't be deceived.
17 bolamu nyonso mpe likabo nyonso ya kitoko ewutaka kaka na Likolo, epai ya Tata ya pole, oyo, kati na Ye, molili ezalaka te, mpe abongwanaka te.
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.
18 Akomisaki biso bana na Ye na nzela ya Liloba ya bosolo, na mokano na Ye moko, mpo ete tozwa esika ya liboso kati na bikelamu na Ye nyonso.
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.
19 Bandeko balingami, bosimba likambo oyo: tika ete moto nyonso awelelaka koyoka, kasi awelelaka te koloba mpe kosilika;
Remember this, my dear friends: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and slow to get angry,
20 pamba te kanda ya moto ekokisaka te makambo ya sembo na miso ya Nzambe.
because human anger doesn't reflect the good character of God.
21 Yango wana, bobwaka makambo nyonso ya bosoto mpe misala nyonso ya mabe, bondima na komikitisa Liloba oyo elonamaki kati na mitema na bino, pamba te ezali na nguya ya kobikisa bino.
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.
22 Botiaka na misala Liloba na Nzambe; kasi bosukaka kaka te na koyoka yango, soki te bokomikosa bino moko na pamba.
But do what the word says—don't just listen to it and delude yourselves.
23 Moto oyo ayokaka Liloba kasi atiaka yango te na misala, akokani na moto oyo amitali na talatala
If you just listen to the word, and don't act on it, it's like staring at your own face in a mirror.
24 mpe, sima na ye komitala, akei mpe, kaka na tango yango, abosani ndenge azali.
You see yourself, but then you leave, and immediately forget what you looked like.
25 Nzokande moto oyo amipesaka na koyekola mobeko oyo ekoka na nyonso mpe epesaka bonsomi, bongo atosaka yango tango nyonso, asukaka kaka na koyoka te, kasi atiaka na misala: moto yango akozala moto ya esengo na nyonso oyo akosala.
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.
26 Moto oyo akanisaka ete asambelaka Nzambe, kasi ayebaka te kobatela lolemo na ye, azali komikosa ye moko, mpe kosambela na ye ezali na tina te.
If you think you're religious, but don't control what you say, you deceive yourself—your religion is pointless.
27 Kosambela ya solo mpe ya peto na miso ya Nzambe, Tata na biso, ezali: kosunga bana bitike mpe basi bakufisa mibali, kati na bapasi na bango, mpe komibatela peto liboso ya makambo ya mokili.
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.
