James 2
1 My brothers, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.
Ndugu zangu msiifuate imani ya Bwana Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, kwa kupendelea watu fulani.
2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in,
Kama mtu fulani akiingia kwenye mikutano yenu amevaa pete za dhahabu na mavazi mazuri, pia akaingia masikini mwenye mavazi machafu,
3 and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”
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.”
4 have not you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Je, hamuhukumiani ninyi wenyewe, na kuwa waamuzi wenye mawazo mabaya?
5 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?
Sikilizeni, ndugu zangu wapendwa, je, Mungu hakuwachagua masikini wa dunia kuwa matajiri katika imani na kurithi ufalme aliowaahidia wampendao?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts?
Lakini mmewadharau masikini! Je, sio matajiri wanaowatesa ninyi, na sio wao wanaowaburuta mahakamani?
7 Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?
Je, si matajiri wanaolitukana jina lile zuri ambalo kwalo mnaitiwa?
8 However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
Hata hivyo, kama mwaitimiza ile sheria ya kifalme kama ilivyoandikwa katika maandiko, “Utampenda jirani yako kama wewe mwenyewe,” mwafanya vyema.
9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
Lakini kama mkipendelea baadhi ya watu, mnatenda dhambi, mwahukumiwa na sheria kuwa ni wavunja sheria.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Kwa kuwa yeyote atiiye sheria yote, na bado akajikwaa katika nukta moja tu, amekuwa na hatia ya kuvunja sheria yote!
11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Kwa kuwa Mungu aliyesema, “Usizini,” ndiye pia aliyesema, “Usiue.” Kama hauzini, lakini una uwa, umekwishavunja sheria ya Mungu.
12 So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
Kwa hiyo zungumzeni na kutii kama wale ambao mko karibu kuhukumiwa na sheria ya uhuru.
13 For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Kwa kuwa hukumu huja pasipo huruma kwa wale wasio na huruma. Huruma hujitukuza juu ya hukumu.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
Kuna uzuri gani, ndugu zangu, kama mtu anasema ninayo imani, lakini hana matendo? Je, imani hiyo yaweza kumwokoa?
15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
Kama ndugu wa kiume au wa kike ni muhitaji wa mavazi au chakula cha kila siku,
16 and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you did not give them the things the body needs, what good is it?
na mmoja wenu akawaambia, “Nendeni kwa amani, mkaote moto na mle vizuri,” lakini hamuwapi mahitaji muhimu ya mwili, hiyo yafaaa nini?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
Hali kadhalika, imani pekee, kama haina matendo, imekufa.
18 Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Bado mtu fulani anaweza kusema, “Una imani, na mimi ninayo matendo.” Nionyeshe imani yako pasipo matendo, nami nitakuonyesha imani yangu kwa matendo yangu.
19 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.
Waamini kuwa kuna Mungu mmoja; uko sahihi. Lakini mapepo nayo yanaamini hivyo na kutetemeka.
20 But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?
Je, unataka kujua, ewe mtu mpumbavu, namna ambavyo imani hiyo pasipo matendo isivyofaa?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
Je, si baba yetu Abrahamu alihesabiwa haki kwa matendo alipomtoa mwanawe Isaka juu ya madhabahu?
22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected.
Mnaona kuwa imani yake ilifanya kazi na matendo yake, na kwa matendo yake, imani yake ilifikia kusudio lake.
23 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
Maandiko yalitimizwa yasemayo, “Abrahamu alimwamini Mungu, na akahesabiwa kuwa ni mwenye haki.” Hivyo Abrahamu aliitwa rafiki wa Mungu.
24 You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
Mwaona kuwa kwa matendo mtu huhesabiwa haki, na si kwa imani tu.
25 In the same way, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
Hali kadhalika, je, hakuwa Rahabu yule kahaba alihesabiwa haki kwa matendo, alipowakaribisha wajumbe na kuwapeleka kwa barabara nyingine?
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
Kwa kuwa kama vile mwili usipokuwa na roho umekufa, vivyo hivyo imani pasipo matendo imekufa.
