Yakobo 4
1 Mapigano na magombano yote kati yenu yanatoka wapi? Hutoka katika tamaa zenu mbaya ambazo hupigana daima ndani yenu.
Whence is it, that there are among you fightings and broils? Is it not from the lusts, which war in your members?
2 Mnatamani vitu na kwa vile hamvipati mko tayari kuua; mwatamani sana kupata vitu, lakini hamvipati, hivyo mnagombana na kupigana. Hampati kile mnachotaka kwa sababu hamkiombi kwa Mungu.
Ye covet, and possess not; and ye kill, and envy, and effect nothing: and ye fight and make attacks; and ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Tena, mnapoomba hampati kwa sababu mnaomba kwa nia mbaya; mnaomba ili mpate kutosheleza tamaa zenu.
Ye ask, and receive not; because ye ask wickedly, that ye may pamper your lusts.
4 Ninyi ni watu msio na uaminifu kama wazinzi. Je, hamjui kwamba kuwa rafiki wa ulimwengu ni kuwa adui wa Mungu? Yeyote anayetaka kuwa rafiki wa ulimwengu anajifanya adui wa Mungu.
Ye adulterers, know ye not, that the love of the world is hostility towards God? He therefore who chooseth to be a lover of this world, is the enemy of God.
5 Msifikiri kwamba Maandiko Matakatifu yamesema maneno ya bure, yanaposema: “Roho ambaye Mungu amemweka ndani yetu ana wivu mkubwa.”
Or think ye, that the scripture hath vainly said: The spirit dwelling in us lusteth with envy?
6 Lakini, neema tunayopewa na Mungu ina nguvu zaidi; kama yasemavyo Maandiko: “Mungu huwapinga wenye majivuno lakini huwapa neema wanyenyekevu.”
But our Lord hath given us more grace. Therefore he said: The Lord humbleth the lofty, and giveth grace to the lowly.
7 Basi, jiwekeni chini ya Mungu; mpingeni Ibilisi naye atawakimbieni.
Subject yourselves therefore to God; and stand firm against Satan, and he will flee from you.
8 Mkaribieni Mungu, naye atakuja karibu nanyi. Osheni mikono yenu enyi wakosefu! Safisheni mioyo yenu enyi wanafiki!
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners: sanctify your hearts, ye divided in mind.
9 Oneni huzuni, lieni na kuomboleza; kicheko chenu na kiwe kilio; na furaha yenu iwe huzuni kubwa.
Humble yourselves, and mourn: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into grief.
10 Nyenyekeeni mbele ya Bwana, naye atawainueni.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
11 Ndugu, msilaumiane ninyi kwa ninyi. Anayemlaumu ndugu yake na kumhukumu, huyo huilaumu na kuihukumu Sheria. Kama ukiihukumu Sheria, basi, wewe huitii Sheria, bali waihukumu.
Speak not against each other, my brethren; for he that speaketh against his brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law. And if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but its judge.
12 Mungu peke yake ndiye mwenye kuweka Sheria na kuhukumu. Ni yeye peke yake anayeweza kuokoa na kuangamiza. Basi, wewe ni nani hata umhukumu binadamu mwenzako?
There is one Law-giver and Judge, who can make alive, and can destroy: but who art thou, that thou judgest thy neighbor?
13 Basi, sasa sikilizeni ninyi mnaosema: “Leo au kesho tutakwenda katika mji fulani na kukaa huko mwaka mzima tukifanya biashara na kupata faida.”
But what shall we say of those, who say: To-day or to-morrow we will go to such or such a city, and will abide there a year; and we will traffic, and get gain?
14 Ninyi hamjui hata maisha yenu yatakavyokuwa kesho! Ninyi ni kama ukungu unaotokea kwa muda mfupi tu na kutoweka tena.
And they know not what will be to-morrow: for what is our life, but an exhalation that is seen a little while, and then vanisheth and is gone?
15 Mngalipaswa kusema: “Bwana akitujalia tutaishi na tutafanya hiki au kile.”
Whereas they should say: If the Lord please, and we live, we will do this or that.
16 Lakini sasa mwajivuna na kujigamba; majivuno ya namna hiyo ni mabaya.
They glory in their vaunting. All such glorying is evil.
17 Basi, mtu ambaye hafanyi lile jambo jema analojua kwamba anapaswa kulifanya, anatenda dhambi.
He that knoweth the good, and doeth it not, to him is sin.
