Yakobo 2
1 Ndugu zangu, kama waaminio katika imani ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, msiwe na upendeleo kwa watu.
My brothers, if you have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory, do not take a man's position into account.
2 Kwa maana kama akija mtu katika kusanyiko lenu akiwa amevaa pete ya dhahabu na mavazi mazuri, pia akaingia mtu maskini mwenye mavazi yaliyochakaa,
For if a man comes into your Synagogue in fair clothing and with a gold ring, and a poor man comes in with dirty clothing,
3 nanyi mkampa heshima yule aliyevaa mavazi mazuri na kumwambia, “Keti hapa mahali pazuri,” lakini yule maskini mkamwambia, “Wewe simama pale,” au “Keti hapa sakafuni karibu na miguu yangu,”
And you do honour to the man in fair clothing and say, Come here and take this good place; and you say to the poor man, Take up your position there, or be seated at my feet;
4 je, hamjawabagua na kuwa mahakimu mioyoni mwenu mkihukumu kwa mawazo yenu maovu?
Is there not a division in your minds? have you not become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Ndugu zangu, sikilizeni: Je, Mungu hakuwachagua wale walio maskini machoni pa ulimwengu kuwa matajiri katika imani na kuurithi Ufalme aliowaahidi wale wampendao?
Give ear, my dear brothers; are not those who are poor in the things of this world marked out by God to have faith as their wealth, and for their heritage the kingdom which he has said he will give to those who have love for him?
6 Lakini ninyi mmemdharau yule aliye maskini. Je, hao matajiri si ndio wanaowadhulumu na kuwaburuta mahakamani?
But you have put the poor man to shame. Are not the men of wealth rulers over you? do they not take you by force before their judges?
7 Je, si wao wanaolikufuru Jina lile lililo bora sana mliloitiwa?
Do they not say evil of the holy name which was given to you?
8 Kama kweli mnaitimiza ile sheria ya kifalme inayopatikana katika Maandiko isemayo, “Mpende jirani yako kama unavyoipenda nafsi yako,” mnafanya vyema.
But if you keep the greatest law of all, as it is given in the holy Writings, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself, you do well:
9 Lakini kama mnakuwa na upendeleo kwa watu, mnatenda dhambi, na sheria inawahukumu kuwa ninyi ni wakosaji.
But if you take a man's position into account, you do evil, and are judged as evil-doers by the law.
10 Kwa maana mtu yeyote anayeishika sheria yote lakini akajikwaa katika kipengele kimoja tu, ana hatia ya kuivunja sheria yote.
For anyone who keeps all the law, but makes a slip in one point, is judged to have gone against it all.
11 Kwa sababu yeye aliyesema, “Usizini,” alisema pia, “Usiue.” Basi kama huzini lakini unaua, umekuwa mvunjaji wa sheria.
For he who said, Do not be untrue in married life, is the same who said, Put no man to death. Now if you are not untrue in married life, but you put a man to death, the law is broken.
12 Hivyo semeni na kutenda kama watu watakaohukumiwa kwa sheria ile iletayo uhuru.
Let your words and your acts be those of men who are to be judged by the law which makes free.
13 Kwa kuwa hukumu bila huruma itatolewa kwa mtu yeyote asiyekuwa na huruma. Huruma huishinda hukumu.
For the man who has had no mercy will be judged without mercy, but mercy takes pride in overcoming judging.
14 Ndugu zangu, yafaa nini ikiwa mtu atadai kuwa anayo imani lakini hana matendo? Je, imani kama hiyo yaweza kumwokoa?
What use is it, my brothers, for a man to say that he has faith, if he does nothing? will such a faith give him salvation?
15 Ikiwa ndugu yako au dada hana mavazi wala chakula,
If a brother or a sister is without clothing and in need of the day's food,
16 mmoja wenu akamwambia, “Enenda zako kwa amani, ukaote moto na kushiba,” pasipo kumpatia yale mahitaji ya mwili aliyopungukiwa, yafaa nini?
And one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warm and full of food; but you do not give them the things of which their bodies have need, what profit is there in this?
17 Vivyo hivyo, imani peke yake kama haikuambatana na matendo, imekufa.
Even so faith without works is dead.
18 Lakini mtu mwingine atasema, “Wewe unayo imani; mimi ninayo matendo.” Nionyeshe imani yako pasipo matendo nami nitakuonyesha imani yangu kwa matendo.
But a man may say, You have faith and I have works; let me see your faith without your works, and I will make my faith clear to you by my works.
19 Unaamini kwamba kuna Mungu mmoja. Vyema! Hata mashetani yanaamini hivyo na kutetemeka.
You have the belief that God is one, and you do well: the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear.
20 Ewe mpumbavu! Je, wataka kujua kwamba imani bila matendo haifai kitu?
Do you not see, O foolish man, that faith without works is of no use?
21 Je, Abrahamu baba yetu hakuhesabiwa haki kwa kile alichotenda, alipomtoa mwanawe Isaki madhabahuni?
Was not the righteousness of Abraham our father judged by his works, when he made an offering of Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Unaona jinsi ambavyo imani yake na matendo yake vilikuwa vinatenda kazi pamoja, nayo imani yake ikakamilishwa na kile alichotenda.
You see that his faith was helping his works and was made complete by them;
23 Kwa njia hiyo yakatimizwa yale Maandiko yasemayo, “Abrahamu alimwamini Mungu na ikahesabiwa kwake kuwa haki,” naye akaitwa rafiki wa Mungu.
And the holy Writings were put into effect which said, And Abraham had faith in God and it was put to his account as righteousness; and he was named the friend of God.
24 Mnaona ya kwamba mtu huhesabiwa haki kwa yale anayotenda wala si kwa imani peke yake.
You see that a man's righteousness is judged by his works and not by his faith only.
25 Vivyo hivyo, hata Rahabu, yule kahaba, hakuhesabiwa haki kwa yale aliyotenda alipowapokea wale wapelelezi na kuwaambia waende njia nyingine?
And in the same way, was not the righteousness of Rahab, the loose woman, judged by her works, when she took into her house those who were sent and let them go out by another way?
26 Kama vile ambavyo mwili pasipo roho umekufa, kadhalika nayo imani pasipo matendo imekufa.
For as the body without the spirit is dead even so faith without works is dead.
