UJakhobe 2
1 Bazalwane bami, njengabakholwayo eNkosini yethu elenkazimulo uJesu Khristu, lingabandlululi.
My brethren, hold ye not the faith of the glory of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, with a respect to persons.
2 Kasithi umuntu ufika emhlanganweni wenu egqize indandatho yegolide, egqoke lezigqoko ezinhle, besekungena umyanga egqoke izigqoko ezinithizelayo.
For if there come into your assembly a man with rings of gold or splendid garments, and there come in a poor man in sordid garments;
3 Nxa limnaka kakhulu lowo ogqoke izigqoko ezinhle lithi kuye, “Nansi isihlalo esingcono,” kodwa kongumyanga lithi, “Wena mana laphayana,” kumbe lithi, “Hlala phansi eduze kwezinyawo zami,”
and ye show respect to him who is clothed in splendid garments, and say to him, Seat thyself here, conspicuously; while to the poor man, ye say, Stand thou there, or sit thou here before my footstool;
4 Kambe kalibandlululanga njalo laba ngabahluleli abalemicabango emibi na?
are ye not divided among yourselves, and become expositors of evil thoughts?
5 Lalelani, bazalwane bami abathandekayo: Kanti uNkulunkulu kabakhethanga yini labo abangabayanga emehlweni omhlaba ukuba babengabanothileyo ekukholweni kanye lokudla ilifa lombuso awuthembisa labo abamthandayo na?
Hear, my beloved brethren; hath not God chosen the poor of the world, but the rich in faith, to be heirs in the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?
6 Kodwa lina libathukile abayanga. Abanothileyo akusibo yini abadinga inzuzo ngani? Akusibo yini abalihudulela emithethwandaba?
But ye have despised the poor man. Do not rich men exalt themselves over you, and drag you before the tribunals?
7 Akusibo yini abahlambaza ibizo lobukhosi elalowo lina elingabakhe na?
Do they not revile that worthy name, which is invoked upon you?
8 Nxa liwugcina sibili umthetho wobukhosi otholakala eMbhalweni othi, “Thanda umakhelwane wakho njengalokhu uzithanda,” lenza okulungileyo.
And if in this ye fulfill the law of God, as it is written, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye will do well:
9 Kodwa nxa libandlulula lenza isono njalo lilahlwa ngumthetho njengabephuli bomthetho.
but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin; and ye are convicted by the law, as transgressors of the law.
10 Ngoba loba ngubani ogcina umthetho wonke, kodwa akhubeke endaweni eyodwa, ulecala lokuwephula wonke.
For he that shall keep the whole law, and yet fail in one precept, is obnoxious to the whole law.
11 Ngoba yena owathi, “Ungafebi,” wathi futhi, “Ungabulali.” Nxa ungafebi, kodwa ubulala, usube yisaphulamthetho.
For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. If then thou commit no adultery, but thou killest, thou hast become a transgressor of the law.
12 Khulumani njalo lenze njengalabo abazakwahlulelwa ngumthetho onika ukukhululeka,
So speak ye, and so act, as persons that are to be judged by the law of liberty.
13 ngoba ukwahlulela okungelasihawu kuzakuba kulowo obengelasihawu. Isihawu sinqoba ukwahlulela!
For judgment without mercy shall be on him, who hath practised no mercy: by mercy, ye will be raised above judgment.
14 Kusizani bazalwane bami, nxa umuntu esithi ulokholo kodwa engelazenzo? Ukholo olunjalo lungamsindisa na?
What is the use, my brethren, if a man say, I have faith; and he hath no works? can his faith vivify him?
15 Kasithi umfowenu loba udadewenu kalazigqoko lokudla kwansukuzonke.
Or if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 Nxa omunye wenu esithi kuye, “Hamba, ngikufisela okuhle; hlala ufudumala njalo usutha,” kodwa angenzi lutho ngalezi zinswelo zakhe zomzimba, kusizani na?
and one of you say to them, Go in peace, warm yourselves, and be full; and ye give them not the necessaries of the body, what is the use?
17 Ngokunjalo, ukukholwa nje kuphela, nxa kungelamisebenzi kufile.
So also faith alone, without works, is dead.
18 Kodwa omunye uzakuthi, “Wena ulokukholwa; mina ngilezenzo.” Ngitshengisa ukukholwa kwakho kungelazenzo, njalo mina ngizakutshengisa ukukholwa kwami ngalokho engikwenzayo.
For a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; show to me thy faith that is without works; and I will show to thee, my faith by my works.
19 Uyakholwa ukuthi kuloNkulunkulu oyedwa. Kulungile! Lamadimoni ayakukholwa lokhu njalo ayathuthumela.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou dost well; the demons also believe, and tremble.
20 Wena ndoda eyisiwula, ufuna ubufakazi bokuthi ukukholwa okungelamisebenzi kuyize na?
Wouldst thou know, O frail man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Kanje ukhokho wethu u-Abhrahama kabalwanga njengolungileyo ngenxa yalokhu akwenzayo lapho anikela indodana yakhe u-Isaka e-alithareni na?
Abraham our father, was not he justified by works, in offering his son Isaac upon the altar?
22 Liyabona ukuthi ukukholwa kwakhe lezenzo zakhe kwakusebenza ndawonye, njalo ukukholwa kwakhe kwapheleliswa yilokho akwenzayo.
Seest thou, that his faith aided his works; and that by the works his faith was rendered complete?
23 Njalo umbhalo wagcwaliseka othi, “U-Abhrahama wakholwa uNkulunkulu, njalo kwabalwa kuye njengokulunga,” njalo wabizwa ngokuthi ngumngane kaNkulunkulu.
And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith: Abraham believed in God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Liyabona ukuthi umuntu ulungiswa yilokho akwenzayo hatshi ngokukholwa kuphela.
Thou seest, that by works a man is justified, and not by faith alone.
25 Ngokunjalo, loRahabi isifebe konje kabalwanga njengolungileyo ngalokho akwenzayo lapho anika inhloli indawo yokulala wabuya wazikhupha ngenye indlela na?
So also Rahab, the harlot, was not she justified by works, when she entertained the spies, and sent them forth by another way?
26 Njengoba umzimba ongelamoya ufile, ngokunjalo ukukholwa okungelamisebenzi kufile.
As the body without the spirit, is dead; so faith without works, is dead also.
