1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
Ndugu zangu, imani ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, msiwe nayo kwa kupendelea watu.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
Maana akiingia katika sinagogi lenu mtu mwenye pete ya dhahabu na mavazi mazuri; kisha akiingia na maskini, mwenye mavazi mabovu;
3 and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
nanyi mkimstahi yule aliyevaa mavazi mazuri, na kumwambia, Keti wewe hapa mahali pazuri; na kumwambia yule maskini, Simama wewe pale, au keti miguuni pangu,
4 are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
je! Hamkufanya hitilafu mioyoni mwenu, mkawa waamuzi wenye mawazo mabovu?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Ndugu zangu wapenzi, sikilizeni, Je! Mungu hakuwachagua maskini wa dunia wawe matajiri wa imani na warithi wa ufalme aliowaahidia wampendao?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
Bali ninyi mmemvunjia heshima maskini. Je! Matajiri hawawaonei ninyi na kuwavuta mbele ya viti vya hukumu?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
Hawalitukani jina lile zuri mliloitwa?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Lakini mkiitimiza ile sheria ya kifalme kama ilivyoandikwa, Mpende jirani yako kama nafsi yako, mwatenda vema.
9 but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Bali mkiwapendelea watu, mwafanya dhambi na kuhukumiwa na sheria kuwa wakosaji.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point , he is guilty of all.
Maana mtu awaye yote atakayeishika sheria yote, ila akajikwaa katika neno moja, amekosa juu ya yote.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Kwa maana yeye aliyesema, Usizini, pia alisema, Usiue. Basi ijapokuwa hukuzini, lakini umeua, umekuwa mvunja sheria.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Semeni ninyi, na kutenda kama watu watakaohukumiwa kwa sheria ya uhuru.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Maana hukumu haina huruma kwake yeye asiyeona huruma. Huruma hujitukuza juu ya hukumu.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Ndugu zangu, yafaa nini, mtu akisema ya kwamba anayo imani, lakini hana matendo? Je! Ile imani yaweza kumwokoa?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Ikiwa ndugu mwanamume au ndugu mwanamke yu uchi na kupungukiwa na riziki,
16 and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
na mtu wa kwenu akawaambia, Enendeni zenu kwa amani, mkaote moto na kushiba, lakini asiwape mahitaji ya mwili, yafaa nini?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Vivyo hivyo na imani, isipokuwa ina matendo, imekufa nafsini mwake.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Lakini mtu atasema, Wewe unayo imani, nami ninayo matendo. Nionyeshe imani yako pasipo matendo, nami nitakuonyesha imani yangu kwa njia ya matendo yangu.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Wewe waamini ya kuwa Mungu ni mmoja; watenda vema. Mashetani nao waamini na kutetemeka.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Lakini wataka kujua, wewe mwanadamu usiye kitu, kwamba imani pasipo matendo haizai?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Je! Baba yetu Ibrahimu hakuhesabiwa kuwa ana haki kwa matendo, hapo alipomtoa Isaka mwanawe juu ya madhabahu?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Waona kwamba imani ilitenda kazi pamoja na matendo yake, na ya kwamba imani ile ilikamilishwa kwa njia ya matendo yale.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Maandiko yale yakatimizwa yaliyonena, Ibrahimu alimwamini Mungu, ikahesabiwa kwake kuwa ni haki; naye aliitwa rafiki wa Mungu.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Mwaona kwamba mwanadamu huhesabiwa kuwa ana haki kwa matendo yake; si kwa imani peke yake.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Vivyo hivyo na Rahabu, yule kahaba naye, je! Hakuhesabiwa kuwa ana haki kwa matendo, hapo alipowakaribisha wajumbe, akawatoa nje kwa njia nyingine?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Maana kama vile mwili pasipo roho umekufa, vivyo hivyo na imani pasipo matendo imekufa.
