Yakobo 2
1 Ndugu zangu msiifuate imani ya Bwana Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, kwa kupendelea watu fulani.
My brothers, stop holding the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Glory, with partiality!
2 Kama mtu fulani akiingia kwenye mikutano yenu amevaa pete za dhahabu na mavazi mazuri, pia akaingia masikini mwenye mavazi machafu,
For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothes, should enter your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy rags should also enter,
3 na mkaonyesha kumjali zaidi yule mwenye mavazi mazuri na kusema, “Tafadhari wewe keti hapa mahali pazuri” lakini mkamwambia yule masikini, “Wewe simama pale,” au “Kaa chini ya miguu yangu.”
and you pay special attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit in this special seat,” but to the poor one you say, “You stand there,” or “Sit here at my footstool,”
4 Je, hamuhukumiani ninyi wenyewe, na kuwa waamuzi wenye mawazo mabaya?
have you not been separated among yourselves and become judges with malignant thoughts?
5 Sikilizeni, ndugu zangu wapendwa, je, Mungu hakuwachagua masikini wa dunia kuwa matajiri katika imani na kurithi ufalme aliowaahidia wampendao?
Listen, my beloved brothers. Has not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those loving Him?
6 Lakini mmewadharau masikini! Je, sio matajiri wanaowatesa ninyi, na sio wao wanaowaburuta mahakamani?
But you dishonored the poor one. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into courts?
7 Je, si matajiri wanaolitukana jina lile zuri ambalo kwalo mnaitiwa?
Do they not blaspheme the noble name that was called upon you?
8 Hata hivyo, kama mwaitimiza ile sheria ya kifalme kama ilivyoandikwa katika maandiko, “Utampenda jirani yako kama wewe mwenyewe,” mwafanya vyema.
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;
9 Lakini kama mkipendelea baadhi ya watu, mnatenda dhambi, mwahukumiwa na sheria kuwa ni wavunja sheria.
but if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 Kwa kuwa yeyote atiiye sheria yote, na bado akajikwaa katika nukta moja tu, amekuwa na hatia ya kuvunja sheria yote!
For whoever will keep the whole law, yet stumble in one point, has become guilty of all.
11 Kwa kuwa Mungu aliyesema, “Usizini,” ndiye pia aliyesema, “Usiue.” Kama hauzini, lakini una uwa, umekwishavunja sheria ya Mungu.
Because He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 Kwa hiyo zungumzeni na kutii kama wale ambao mko karibu kuhukumiwa na sheria ya uhuru.
Speak and act as being those who are about to be judged by a law of liberty
13 Kwa kuwa hukumu huja pasipo huruma kwa wale wasio na huruma. Huruma hujitukuza juu ya hukumu.
(the judgment will be without mercy to the one not showing mercy). That law exalts mercy over judgment.
14 Kuna uzuri gani, ndugu zangu, kama mtu anasema ninayo imani, lakini hana matendo? Je, imani hiyo yaweza kumwokoa?
What is the advantage, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it?
15 Kama ndugu wa kiume au wa kike ni muhitaji wa mavazi au chakula cha kila siku,
If a brother or sister is actually naked, and is destitute of the daily food,
16 na mmoja wenu akawaambia, “Nendeni kwa amani, mkaote moto na mle vizuri,” lakini hamuwapi mahitaji muhimu ya mwili, hiyo yafaaa nini?
and someone among you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you (pl) do not give them the things needed for the body, what is the benefit?
17 Hali kadhalika, imani pekee, kama haina matendo, imekufa.
Thus also that faith, if it does not have works, is dead, being by itself.
18 Bado mtu fulani anaweza kusema, “Una imani, na mimi ninayo matendo.” Nionyeshe imani yako pasipo matendo, nami nitakuonyesha imani yangu kwa matendo yangu.
(But someone will say: “You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith by your works and I, by my works will show you my faith [what he believes].”
19 Waamini kuwa kuna Mungu mmoja; uko sahihi. Lakini mapepo nayo yanaamini hivyo na kutetemeka.
You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder!)
20 Je, unataka kujua, ewe mtu mpumbavu, namna ambavyo imani hiyo pasipo matendo isivyofaa?
But you need to know, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is dead!
21 Je, si baba yetu Abrahamu alihesabiwa haki kwa matendo alipomtoa mwanawe Isaka juu ya madhabahu?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Mnaona kuwa imani yake ilifanya kazi na matendo yake, na kwa matendo yake, imani yake ilifikia kusudio lake.
You can see that faith was acting together with his works, and the faith was made complete by the works.
23 Maandiko yalitimizwa yasemayo, “Abrahamu alimwamini Mungu, na akahesabiwa kuwa ni mwenye haki.” Hivyo Abrahamu aliitwa rafiki wa Mungu.
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “So Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called ‘friend of God’.
24 Mwaona kuwa kwa matendo mtu huhesabiwa haki, na si kwa imani tu.
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Hali kadhalika, je, hakuwa Rahabu yule kahaba alihesabiwa haki kwa matendo, alipowakaribisha wajumbe na kuwapeleka kwa barabara nyingine?
Similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different way?
26 Kwa kuwa kama vile mwili usipokuwa na roho umekufa, vivyo hivyo imani pasipo matendo imekufa.
For just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
