Yakobo 4
1 Ni kitu gani kinachosababisha mapigano na ugomvi miongoni mwenu? Je, haya hayatokani na tamaa zenu zinazoshindana ndani yenu?
From where [are] wars and fightings among you? [Is it] not from here, out of your passions warring in your members?
2 Mnatamani lakini hampati, kwa hiyo mwaua. Mwatamani kupata lakini hampati vile mnavyotaka, kwa hiyo mnajitia katika magomvi na mapigano. Mmepungukiwa kwa sababu hammwombi Mungu.
You desire, and do not have, [so] you murder; and you are zealous, and are not able to attain, [so] you fight and war; and you do not have, because of your not asking;
3 Mnapoomba hampati kwa sababu mnaomba kwa nia mbaya, ili mpate kuvitumia hivyo mtakavyopata kwa tamaa zenu.
you ask, and you do not receive, because you ask badly, that you may spend [it] in your pleasures.
4 Ninyi wanaume na wanawake wazinzi, hamjui ya kwamba urafiki na dunia ni uadui na Mungu? Kwa hiyo mtu yeyote anayetaka kuwa rafiki wa dunia hufanyika adui wa Mungu.
Adulterers and adulteresses! Have you not known that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever, then, may intend to be a friend of the world, he is designated [as] an enemy of God.
5 Au mwadhani kwamba Andiko lasema bure kuwa huyo Roho ambaye Mungu amemweka ndani yetu hututamani kiasi cha kuona wivu?
Or, do you think that the Writing says emptily, “The Spirit that has dwelt in us yearns with envy,”
6 Lakini yeye hutupatia neema zaidi. Hii ndiyo sababu Andiko husema: “Mungu huwapinga wenye kiburi, lakini huwapa wanyenyekevu neema.”
but [God] gives greater grace, for this reason it says, “God sets Himself up against proud ones, and He gives grace to lowly ones.”
7 Basi mtiini Mungu. Mpingeni ibilisi, naye atawakimbia.
Be subject, then, to God; stand up against the Devil, and he will flee from you;
8 Mkaribieni Mungu, naye atawakaribia ninyi. Itakaseni mikono yenu ninyi wenye dhambi, na kuisafisha mioyo yenu ninyi wenye nia mbili.
draw near to God, and He will draw near to you; cleanse hands, you sinners! And purify hearts, you split-souled!
9 Huzunikeni, ombolezeni na kulia. Kicheko chenu na kigeuzwe kuwa kuomboleza, na furaha yenu kuwa huzuni.
Be exceedingly afflicted, and mourn, and weep, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and the joy to heaviness;
10 Jinyenyekezeni mbele za Bwana, naye atawainua.
be made low before the LORD, and He will exalt you.
11 Ndugu, msineneane mabaya ninyi kwa ninyi. Mtu yeyote anayesema mabaya dhidi ya ndugu yake au kumhukumu anasema dhidi ya sheria na kuihukumu. Unapoihukumu sheria, basi huishiki sheria bali umekuwa hakimu wa kuihukumu hiyo sheria.
Do not speak against one another, brothers; he who is speaking against a brother, and is judging his brother, speaks against law, and judges law, and if you judge law, you are not a doer of law but a judge.
12 Yuko Mtoa sheria mmoja tu na yeye peke yake ndiye Hakimu, ndiye awezaye kuokoa au kuangamiza. Lakini wewe ni nani hata umhukumu jirani yako?
One is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; you—who are you that judges the other?
13 Basi sikilizeni ninyi msemao, “Leo au kesho tutakwenda katika mji huu ama ule tukae humo mwaka mmoja, tufanye biashara na kupata faida.”
Go, now, you who are saying, “Today and tomorrow we will go on to such a city, and will pass there one year, and traffic, and make gain,”
14 Lakini hamjui hata litakalotukia kesho. Maisha yenu ni nini? Ninyi ni ukungu ambao huonekana kwa kitambo kidogo kisha hutoweka.
who does not know the thing of tomorrow; for what is your life? For it is a vapor that is appearing for a little [while], and then is vanishing;
15 Badala yake, inawapasa kusema, “Kama Bwana akipenda, tutaishi na kufanya hili ama lile.”
instead, you [ought] to say, “If the LORD may will, we will live, and do this or that”;
16 Kama ilivyo sasa, mnajisifu na kujigamba. Kujisifu kwa namna hiyo ni uovu.
but now you glory in your pride; all such glorying is evil;
17 Basi mtu yeyote anayejua jema limpasalo kutenda, lakini asilitende, mtu huyo anatenda dhambi.
to him, then, knowing to do good, and not doing [it], it is sin to him.
