yAkUbaH 1
1 Izvarasya prabho ryIzukhrISTasya ca dAso yAkUb vikIrNIbhUtAn dvAdazaM vaMzAn prati namaskRtya patraM likhati|
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 he mama bhrAtaraH, yUyaM yadA bahuvidhaparIkSASu nipatata tadA tat pUrNAnandasya kAraNaM manyadhvaM|
My friends, choose to stay happy even when all kinds of troubles come your way,
3 yato yuSmAkaM vizvAsasya parIkSitatvena dhairyyaM sampAdyata iti jAnItha|
because you know that endurance comes from dealing with challenges to your trust in God.
4 tacca dhairyyaM siddhaphalaM bhavatu tena yUyaM siddhAH sampUrNAzca bhaviSyatha kasyApi guNasyAbhAvazca yuSmAkaM na bhaviSyati|
Let your endurance become as strong as possible, so that you will be completely mature, without any shortcomings.
5 yuSmAkaM kasyApi jJAnAbhAvo yadi bhavet tarhi ya IzvaraH saralabhAvena tiraskAraJca vinA sarvvebhyo dadAti tataH sa yAcatAM tatastasmai dAyiSyate|
If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everyone without holding back.
6 kintu sa niHsandehaH san vizvAsena yAcatAM yataH sandigdho mAnavo vAyunA cAlitasyotplavamAnasya ca samudrataraGgasya sadRzo bhavati|
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 tAdRzo mAnavaH prabhoH kiJcit prApsyatIti na manyatAM|
Nobody like that should think they'll get anything from the Lord—
8 dvimanA lokaH sarvvagatiSu caJcalo bhavati|
their minds think every which way, and they're unstable in whatever they do.
9 yo bhrAtA namraH sa nijonnatyA zlAghatAM|
Believers who are born poor should take pride in the high position they've been given,
10 yazca dhanavAn sa nijanamratayA zlAghatAMyataH sa tRNapuSpavat kSayaM gamiSyati|
while the rich should “boast” in the humble position they now have, since they will fade away like flowers in the field.
11 yataH satApena sUryyeNoditya tRNaM zoSyate tatpuSpaJca bhrazyati tena tasya rUpasya saundaryyaM nazyati tadvad dhaniloko'pi svIyamUDhatayA mlAsyati|
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 yo janaH parIkSAM sahate sa eva dhanyaH, yataH parIkSitatvaM prApya sa prabhunA svapremakAribhyaH pratijJAtaM jIvanamukuTaM lapsyate|
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 Izvaro mAM parIkSata iti parIkSAsamaye ko'pi na vadatu yataH pApAyezvarasya parIkSA na bhavati sa ca kamapi na parIkSate|
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 kintu yaH kazcit svIyamanovAJchayAkRSyate lobhyate ca tasyaiva parIkSA bhavati|
Temptations come from our own evil desires that lead us astray and entrap us.
15 tasmAt sA manovAJchA sagarbhA bhUtvA duSkRtiM prasUte duSkRtizca pariNAmaM gatvA mRtyuM janayati|
Such desires lead to sin, and sin, when it's fully developed, causes death.
16 he mama priyabhrAtaraH, yUyaM na bhrAmyata|
My dear friends, don't be deceived.
17 yat kiJcid uttamaM dAnaM pUrNo varazca tat sarvvam UrddhvAd arthato yasmin dazAntaraM parivarttanajAtacchAyA vA nAsti tasmAd dIptyAkarAt pituravarohati|
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 tasya sRSTavastUnAM madhye vayaM yat prathamaphalasvarUpA bhavAmastadarthaM sa svecchAtaH satyamatasya vAkyenAsmAn janayAmAsa|
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 ataeva he mama priyabhrAtaraH, yuSmAkam ekaiko janaH zravaNe tvaritaH kathane dhIraH krodhe'pi dhIro bhavatu|
Remember this, my dear friends: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and slow to get angry,
20 yato mAnavasya krodha IzvarIyadharmmaM na sAdhayati|
because human anger doesn't reflect the good character of God.
21 ato heto ryUyaM sarvvAm azucikriyAM duSTatAbAhulyaJca nikSipya yuSmanmanasAM paritrANe samarthaM ropitaM vAkyaM namrabhAvena gRhlIta|
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 aparaJca yUyaM kevalam AtmavaJcayitAro vAkyasya zrotAro na bhavata kintu vAkyasya karmmakAriNo bhavata|
But do what the word says—don't just listen to it and delude yourselves.
23 yato yaH kazcid vAkyasya karmmakArI na bhUtvA kevalaM tasya zrotA bhavati sa darpaNe svIyazArIrikavadanaM nirIkSamANasya manujasya sadRzaH|
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 AtmAkAre dRSTe sa prasthAya kIdRza AsIt tat tatkSaNAd vismarati|
You see yourself, but then you leave, and immediately forget what you looked like.
25 kintu yaH kazcit natvA mukteH siddhAM vyavasthAm Alokya tiSThati sa vismRtiyuktaH zrotA na bhUtvA karmmakarttaiva san svakAryye dhanyo bhaviSyati|
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 anAyattarasanaH san yaH kazcit svamano vaJcayitvA svaM bhaktaM manyate tasya bhakti rmudhA bhavati|
If you think you're religious, but don't control what you say, you deceive yourself—your religion is pointless.
27 klezakAle pitRhInAnAM vidhavAnAJca yad avekSaNaM saMsArAcca niSkalaGkena yad AtmarakSaNaM tadeva piturIzvarasya sAkSAt zuci rnirmmalA ca bhaktiH|
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.
