Yakobo 4

1 Ɔko ne akasakasa a asi mo mu yi fi he? Efi mo ara mo akɔnnɔ a ɛne mo nipadua di asi no.

From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Morepɛ nneɛma bi nanso morentumi nnya, ɛno nti moayɛ mo adwene sɛ mubedi awu. Mo ani abere denneennen rehwehwɛ nneɛma bi, nanso mo nsa nka, enti akasakasa ne ɔko nam so ba. Mo nsa renka nea morehwehwɛ no efisɛ mummisa Onyankopɔn.

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Na sɛ mubisa koraa nso a, mo nsa renka, efisɛ mowɔ adwemmɔne, sɛ ɛbɛyɛ a mode nea munya no begye mo ani.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

4 Nnipa a munni gyidi! Munnim sɛ, sɛ mofa wiase adamfo a, na moyɛ Onyankopɔn atamfo? Obiara a ɔpɛ sɛ ɔyɛ wiase adamfo no bɛyɛ Onyankopɔn tamfo.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

5 Mususuw sɛ Kyerɛwsɛm a ɛka se, “Ninkutwe ahyɛ honhom a Onyankopɔn de ahyɛ yɛn mu no ma” no wɔkaa no kwa ana?

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 Nanso adom a Onyankopɔn dom yɛn no dɔɔso yiye. Na Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se, “Onyankopɔn siw ahantanfo kwan, na ɔdom ahobrɛasefo.”

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Enti momfa mo ho nhyɛ Onyankopɔn ase. Munsiw ɔbonsam kwan, na obeguan afi mo ho.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Mommɛn Onyankopɔn, na ɔno nso bɛbɛn mo. Monhohoro mo nsa ho, mo nnebɔneyɛfo! Montew mo koma mu, mo a mo adwene yɛ ntanta!

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.

9 Munni awerɛhow, munsu, na muntwa agyaadwo; momma mo serew nnan osu, na mo anigye nnan awerɛhow.

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness.

10 Mommrɛ mo ho ase mma Awurade, na ɔbɛma mo so.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

11 Me nuanom, munnnidi mo ho nseku. Obiara a ɔkasa tia ne nua anaa obu no atɛn no, kasa tia mmara no. Na sɛ wubu mmara no atɛn a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ afei de, wunni mmara no so.

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 Onyankopɔn nko na ɔma mmara na obu atɛn. Ɔno nko na ogye nkwa na ɔsɛe. Wone hena a wubu wo yɔnko atɛn?

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

13 Mo a moka se, “Nnɛ anaa ɔkyena yebetu kwan akɔ kurow bi so akodi afe akɔyɛ adwuma, apɛ sika” no, muntie me.

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

14 Munnim nea ɛbɛto mo ɔkyena. Mote sɛ omununkum a ɛba bere tiaa bi na ɛyera.

Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

15 Asɛm a ɛsɛ sɛ moka ne se, “Sɛ Awurade pɛ a, yɛbɛyɛ eyi anaa eyi.”

For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

16 Nanso mprempren mohoahoa mo ho de mo nsa si mo bo. Saa ahohoahoa no nyinaa yɛ bɔne.

But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Enti nea onim papa yɛ na ɔnyɛ no, ɛyɛ bɔne ma no.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.