Yakobo 2
1 Ndugu zangu msiifuate imani ya Bwana Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, kwa kupendelea watu fulani.
My brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of 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 someone with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor person in filthy clothing also comes in;
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 who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" but you tell the poor person, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool."
4 Je, hamuhukumiani ninyi wenyewe, na kuwa waamuzi wenye mawazo mabaya?
Have you not discriminated among yourselves, and become judges with evil 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. 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 mmewadharau masikini! Je, sio matajiri wanaowatesa ninyi, na sio wao wanaowaburuta mahakamani?
But you have dishonored the poor person. Do not the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?
7 Je, si matajiri wanaolitukana jina lile zuri ambalo kwalo mnaitiwa?
Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?
8 Hata hivyo, kama mwaitimiza ile sheria ya kifalme kama ilivyoandikwa katika maandiko, “Utampenda jirani yako kama wewe mwenyewe,” mwafanya vyema.
However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You are to 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 keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
11 Kwa kuwa Mungu aliyesema, “Usizini,” ndiye pia aliyesema, “Usiue.” Kama hauzini, lakini una uwa, umekwishavunja sheria ya Mungu.
For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but 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.
So speak, and so do, as those who are to be judged by a law of freedom.
13 Kwa kuwa hukumu huja pasipo huruma kwa wale wasio na huruma. Huruma hujitukuza juu ya hukumu.
For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 Kuna uzuri gani, ndugu zangu, kama mtu anasema ninayo imani, lakini hana matendo? Je, imani hiyo yaweza kumwokoa?
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
15 Kama ndugu wa kiume au wa kike ni muhitaji wa mavazi au chakula cha kila siku,
And if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and may be lacking in 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 one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you did not give them the things the body needs, what good is it?
17 Hali kadhalika, imani pekee, kama haina matendo, imekufa.
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in 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 without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
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 do you want to know, foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
21 Je, si baba yetu Abrahamu alihesabiwa haki kwa matendo alipomtoa mwanawe Isaka juu ya madhabahu?
Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up 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 see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;
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, "And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God.
24 Mwaona kuwa kwa matendo mtu huhesabiwa haki, na si kwa imani tu.
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 Hali kadhalika, je, hakuwa Rahabu yule kahaba alihesabiwa haki kwa matendo, alipowakaribisha wajumbe na kuwapeleka kwa barabara nyingine?
In like manner was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
26 Kwa kuwa kama vile mwili usipokuwa na roho umekufa, vivyo hivyo imani pasipo matendo imekufa.
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
