James 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.

1 作上帝和主耶穌基督僕人的雅各請散住十二個支派之人的安。

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

2 我的弟兄們，你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂；

3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

3 因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。

4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

4 但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。

5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

5 你們中間若有缺少智慧的，應當求那厚賜與眾人、也不斥責人的上帝，主就必賜給他。

6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

6 只要憑着信心求，一點不疑惑；因為那疑惑的人，就像海中的波浪，被風吹動翻騰。

7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

7 這樣的人不要想從主那裏得甚麼。

8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

8 心懷二意的人，在他一切所行的路上都沒有定見。

9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.

9 卑微的弟兄升高，就該喜樂；

10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

10 富足的降卑，也該如此；因為他必要過去，如同草上的花一樣。

11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

11 太陽出來，熱風颳起，草就枯乾，花也凋謝，美容就消沒了；那富足的人，在他所行的事上也要這樣衰殘。

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

12 忍受試探的人是有福的，因為他經過試驗以後，必得生命的冠冕；這是主應許給那些愛他之人的。

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.

13 人被試探，不可說：「我是被上帝試探」；因為上帝不能被惡試探，他也不試探人。

14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.

14 但各人被試探，乃是被自己的私慾牽引誘惑的。

15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

15 私慾既懷了胎，就生出罪來；罪既長成，就生出死來。

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

16 我親愛的弟兄們，不要看錯了。

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

17 各樣美善的恩賜和各樣全備的賞賜都是從上頭來的，從眾光之父那裏降下來的；在他並沒有改變，也沒有轉動的影兒。

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

18 他按自己的旨意，用真道生了我們，叫我們在他所造的萬物中好像初熟的果子。

19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

19 我親愛的弟兄們，這是你們所知道的。但你們各人要快快地聽，慢慢地說，慢慢地動怒，

20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

20 因為人的怒氣並不成就上帝的義。

21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

21 所以，你們要脫去一切的污穢和盈餘的邪惡，存溫柔的心領受那所栽種的道，就是能救你們靈魂的道。

22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

22 只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。

23 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,

23 因為聽道而不行道的，就像人對着鏡子看自己本來的面目，

24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

24 看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何。

25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.

25 惟有詳細察看那全備、使人自由之律法的，並且時常如此，這人既不是聽了就忘，乃是實在行出來，就在他所行的事上必然得福。

26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

26 若有人自以為虔誠，卻不勒住他的舌頭，反欺哄自己的心，這人的虔誠是虛的。

27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

27 在上帝我們的父面前，那清潔沒有玷污的虔誠，就是看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦，並且保守自己不沾染世俗。