Yakobo 2
1 Me nuanom, sɛ moyɛ agyidifoɔ wɔ Awurade Kristo animuonyam mu yi, monnyɛ animhwɛ.
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons.
2 Sɛ mohyia a, ɔdefoɔ a ɔhyɛ mpɛtea ne ntade pa ne ohiani bi nso a ɔhyɛ ntadego nso tumi ba bi.
For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,
3 Sɛ wode anidie ma deɛ wasiesie ne ho yie no, na woka kyerɛ no sɛ, “Tena saa akonnwa pa yi so,” na woka kyerɛ ohiani no nso sɛ, “Sɔre gyina hɔ anaa tena fam wɔ me nan ase ha” a,
And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:
4 wodi fɔ sɛ wogyina atemmuo a ɛfiri adwemmɔne mu de nyiyimu abɛto mo mu no ho.
Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?
5 Me nuanom adɔfoɔ, montie! Onyankopɔn yii ewiase yi mu ahiafoɔ sɛ wɔnyɛ adefoɔ wɔ gyidie mu na wɔanya ahennie a ɔhyɛɛ wɔn a wɔdɔ no no ho bɔ no.
Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?
6 Nanso, moammu ahiafoɔ! Ɛhefoɔ na wɔdi mo nya twe mo kɔ atemmufoɔ anim? Adefoɔ!
But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Wɔne nnipa a wɔkasa tia din pa a wɔde ama mo no.
Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?
8 Ɛyɛ sɛ modi yɛn Awurade mmara a ɛka sɛ, “Dɔ wo yɔnko sɛ wo ho” no so.
If then you fulfill the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.
9 Na sɛ mohwɛ nnipa anim de gye wɔn a, modi ho fɔ na Mmara no tia mo sɛ mmaratofoɔ.
But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.
10 Obiara a ɔbu mmara no mu baako pɛ so no bu ne nyinaa so.
And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all.
11 Ɛfiri sɛ, deɛ ɔkaa sɛ, “Nsɛe awadeɛ” no, ɔno ara nso na ɔkaa sɛ, “Nni awu.” Na sɛ woansɛe awadeɛ na wodi awu a, woabu mmara so.
For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 Sɛ woyɛ Kristo apɛdeɛ o, sɛ woanyɛ nʼapɛdeɛ o, wobɛbu wo ho atɛn. Enti hwɛ asɛm a woka ne deɛ woyɛ biara yie.
So speak ye, and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.
13 Ɛfiri sɛ, obi a wanhunu mmɔbɔ no, Onyankopɔn atemmuo mu no, wɔrenhunu no mmɔbɔ. Nanso atemmuo mu mpo no, Onyankopɔn hunu mmɔbɔ.
For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.
14 Me nuanom, sɛ obi ka sɛ, “Mewɔ gyidie” na ɔnni gyidie no ho dwuma a, mfasoɔ bɛn na ɛwɔ soɔ? Saa gyidie no bɛtumi agye no nkwa anaa?
What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?
15 Sɛ anuanom bi wɔ hɔ a ntoma ho hia wɔn na wɔnni aduane dodoɔ nso a wɔbɛdi,
And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food:
16 sɛ wokɔka kyerɛ wɔn sɛ, “Onyame nhyira mo! Mo ho nyɛ mo hye na monnidi yie” na sɛ woamma wɔn asetena yi mu deɛ ɛhia wɔn a, papa bɛn na woayɛ wɔn?
And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?
17 Saa ara na gyidie teɛ. Sɛ nneyɛeɛ nka ho a, na awu.
So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
18 Nanso, obi bɛtumi aka sɛ, “Obi wɔ gyidie na afoforɔ nso wɔ nneyɛeɛ.” Me mmuaeɛ ne sɛ, “Kyerɛ me sɛdeɛ obi tumi nya gyidie a nneyɛeɛ mmata ho ase. Me deɛ menam me nneyɛeɛ so bɛkyerɛ wo me gyidie.”
But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.
19 Wogye di sɛ Onyankopɔn baako pɛ na ɔwɔ hɔ? Ɛyɛ! Ahonhommɔne nso gye di saa ara na wɔn ho popo wɔ suro mu.
Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
20 Ɔkwasea! Wopɛ sɛ wɔka kyerɛ wo sɛ gyidie a nneyɛeɛ mmata ho no ho nni mfasoɔ anaa?
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Ɛyɛɛ dɛn na Onyankopɔn buu Abraham bem? Ɛnam ne nneyɛeɛ so sɛ ɔde ne ba Isak maa wɔ afɔrebukyia so no.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Wohunu sɛ ne gyidie ne ne nneyɛeɛ nyinaa redi dwuma na ne nneyɛeɛ no maa ne gyidie no dii mu.
Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect?
23 Na Atwerɛsɛm no baa mu sɛ, Abraham gyee Onyankopɔn diiɛ na ɛsiane ne gyidie no enti, Onyankopɔn gyee no sɛ ɔteneneeni. Enti wɔfrɛ Abraham Onyankopɔn adamfo.
And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.
24 Yei da no adi pefee sɛ Onyankopɔn nam onipa nneyɛeɛ so na ɔbu no bem, na ɛnnam ne gyidie nko so.
Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?
25 Saa ara na ɛte wɔ adwaman Rahab ho. Ne nneyɛeɛ maa Onyankopɔn buu no bem, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔgyee Yudafoɔ bi a wɔsomaa wɔn, boaa wɔn ma wɔdwane faa ɛkwan foforɔ bi so.
And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?
26 Sɛdeɛ onipadua a honhom nni mu awuo no, saa ara nso na gyidie a nneyɛeɛ mmata ho no nso awuo.
For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.
