Yakobo 4
1 Ugonvi na migogoro miongoni mwenu vyatoka wapi? Haviinuki kutoka katika tamaa zenu mbaya zinazoleta vita ndani ya washirika wenu?
Where do the fights and quarrels you're having come from? Aren't they due to the sensual passions that are in conflict within you?
2 Mnatamani kile msichokuwa nacho. Mnauwa na mnafukuzia kile msichoweza kuwa nacho. Mnapigana na kugombana, na bado hampati kwa sababu hamumwombi Mungu.
You burn with desire, but don't get what you want. You kill for what you lust after, but don't get what you're looking for. You argue and you fight, but you don't get anything, because you don't pray for it.
3 Mnaomba na hampokei kwa sababu mnaomba kwa ajili ya mambo mabaya, ili kwamba muweze kuvitumia kwa tamaa zenu mbaya.
You pray, but don't receive anything, because you ask with a wrong motive, wanting to spend what you'd receive on your selfish pleasures.
4 Enyi wazinzi! Hamjui kwamba urafiki na ulimwengu ni uadui dhidi ya Mungu? Kwa hiyo, yeyote aamuaye kuwa rafiki wa ulimwengu hujifanya mwenyewe adui wa Mungu.
You adulterous people! Don't you realize that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Those who want to be friends of the world make themselves enemies of God.
5 Au mnadhani maandiko hayana maana yasemapo kwamba Roho aliyoweka ndani yetu ana wivu sana kwa ajili yetu?
Do you think Scripture doesn't mean what it says: that the spirit that he put in us is very jealous?
6 Lakini Mungu hutoa neema zaidi, ndiyo maana maandiko husema, “Mungu humpinga mwenye kiburi, lakini humpa neema mnyenyekevu.”
But God gives us even more grace, as Scripture says: “God is against those who are arrogant, but gives grace to those who are humble.”
7 Hivyo, jitoeni kwa Mungu. Mpingeni ibilisi na yeye atakimbia kutoka kwenu.
So place yourself under God's direction. Confront the devil, and he will run away from you.
8 Sogeeni karibu na Mungu, na yeye atakaribia karibu nanyi. Safisheni mikono yenu, enyi wenye dhambi, na takaseni mioyo yenu, enyi wenye nia mbili.
Come close to God and he will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your way of thinking, you people with divided loyalties.
9 Huzunikeni, ombolezeni, na kuria! Geuzeni kicheko chenu kuwa huzuni na furaha yenu kuwa maombolezo.
Show some remorse, cry and weep! Turn your laughter into mourning, and your joy to sadness.
10 Jinyenyekezeni wenyewe mbele za Bwana, na atawainua juu.
Be humble before the Lord and he will lift you up.
11 Msineneane kinyume ninyi kwa ninyi, ndugu. Mtu anenaye kinyume na ndugu yake, au kumhukumu ndugu yake, hunena kinyume na sheria na huihukumu sheria ya Mungu. Mkiihukumu sheria, hamuitii sheria, bali mnaihukumu.
Friends, don't speak badly of one another. Anyone who criticizes a fellow-believer and condemns them, criticizes and condemns the law. If you condemn the law you're not someone who keeps the law, because you're sitting in judgment of it.
12 Ni mmoja tu ambaye ni mtoa sheria na hakimu, Mungu, yeye ambaye ana uwezo wa kuokoa na kuangamiza. Wewe ni nani ambaye unamhukumu jirani yako?
There's only one lawgiver and judge—the one who can either save or destroy you—so who are you to judge your neighbor?
13 Sikilizeni, ninyi msemao, “Leo au kesho tutakwenda katika mji huu, na kukaa mwaka huko, na kufanya biashara, na kutengeneza faida.”
Come on now!—you people who say, “Either today or tomorrow we'll go to such-and-such a city, spend a year in business there, and make a profit.”
14 Ni nani ajuaye nini kitatokea kesho, na maisha yenu ni nini hasa? Kwa kuwa mnafanana kama ukungu unaotokea kwa muda mfupi na kisha hupotea.
You have no idea what will happen tomorrow! What's your life like? It's just a mist that appears for a little while, and then is gone.
15 Badala yake mngesema, “kama ni mapenzi ya Bwana, tutaishi na tutafanya hiki au kile.”
What you should say is, “If it's the Lord's will, we'll live like this and plan to do that.”
16 Lakini sasa mnajivuna juu ya mipango yenu. Majivuno yote hayo ni uovu.
But right now you're caught up in your vain ideas. All this boasting is evil.
17 Kwahiyo, kwake yeye ajuaye kutenda mema lakini hayatendi, kwake huyo ni dhambi.
For it is a sin if you know to do what's right but don't do it.
