Yakobo 2
1 Ndugu zangu, kama waaminio katika imani ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, msiwe na upendeleo kwa watu.
My brothers, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.
2 Kwa maana kama akija mtu katika kusanyiko lenu akiwa amevaa pete ya dhahabu na mavazi mazuri, pia akaingia mtu maskini mwenye mavazi yaliyochakaa,
For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in,
3 nanyi mkampa heshima yule aliyevaa mavazi mazuri na kumwambia, “Keti hapa mahali pazuri,” lakini yule maskini mkamwambia, “Wewe simama pale,” au “Keti hapa sakafuni karibu na miguu yangu,”
and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”
4 je, hamjawabagua na kuwa mahakimu mioyoni mwenu mkihukumu kwa mawazo yenu maovu?
have not you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Ndugu zangu, sikilizeni: Je, Mungu hakuwachagua wale walio maskini machoni pa ulimwengu kuwa matajiri katika imani na kuurithi Ufalme aliowaahidi wale wampendao?
Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?
6 Lakini ninyi mmemdharau yule aliye maskini. Je, hao matajiri si ndio wanaowadhulumu na kuwaburuta mahakamani?
But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts?
7 Je, si wao wanaolikufuru Jina lile lililo bora sana mliloitiwa?
Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?
8 Kama kweli mnaitimiza ile sheria ya kifalme inayopatikana katika Maandiko isemayo, “Mpende jirani yako kama unavyoipenda nafsi yako,” mnafanya vyema.
However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
9 Lakini kama mnakuwa na upendeleo kwa watu, mnatenda dhambi, na sheria inawahukumu kuwa ninyi ni wakosaji.
But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 Kwa maana mtu yeyote anayeishika sheria yote lakini akajikwaa katika kipengele kimoja tu, ana hatia ya kuivunja sheria yote.
For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
11 Kwa sababu yeye aliyesema, “Usizini,” alisema pia, “Usiue.” Basi kama huzini lakini unaua, umekuwa mvunjaji wa sheria.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 Hivyo semeni na kutenda kama watu watakaohukumiwa kwa sheria ile iletayo uhuru.
So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
13 Kwa kuwa hukumu bila huruma itatolewa kwa mtu yeyote asiyekuwa na huruma. Huruma huishinda hukumu.
For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 Ndugu zangu, yafaa nini ikiwa mtu atadai kuwa anayo imani lakini hana matendo? Je, imani kama hiyo yaweza kumwokoa?
What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
15 Ikiwa ndugu yako au dada hana mavazi wala chakula,
And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
16 mmoja wenu akamwambia, “Enenda zako kwa amani, ukaote moto na kushiba,” pasipo kumpatia yale mahitaji ya mwili aliyopungukiwa, yafaa nini?
and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you did not give them the things the body needs, what good is it?
17 Vivyo hivyo, imani peke yake kama haikuambatana na matendo, imekufa.
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
18 Lakini mtu mwingine atasema, “Wewe unayo imani; mimi ninayo matendo.” Nionyeshe imani yako pasipo matendo nami nitakuonyesha imani yangu kwa matendo.
Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 Unaamini kwamba kuna Mungu mmoja. Vyema! Hata mashetani yanaamini hivyo na kutetemeka.
You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.
20 Ewe mpumbavu! Je, wataka kujua kwamba imani bila matendo haifai kitu?
But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?
21 Je, Abrahamu baba yetu hakuhesabiwa haki kwa kile alichotenda, alipomtoa mwanawe Isaki madhabahuni?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Unaona jinsi ambavyo imani yake na matendo yake vilikuwa vinatenda kazi pamoja, nayo imani yake ikakamilishwa na kile alichotenda.
You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected.
23 Kwa njia hiyo yakatimizwa yale Maandiko yasemayo, “Abrahamu alimwamini Mungu na ikahesabiwa kwake kuwa haki,” naye akaitwa rafiki wa Mungu.
So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
24 Mnaona ya kwamba mtu huhesabiwa haki kwa yale anayotenda wala si kwa imani peke yake.
You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
25 Vivyo hivyo, hata Rahabu, yule kahaba, hakuhesabiwa haki kwa yale aliyotenda alipowapokea wale wapelelezi na kuwaambia waende njia nyingine?
In the same way, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 Kama vile ambavyo mwili pasipo roho umekufa, kadhalika nayo imani pasipo matendo imekufa.
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
