James 1

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

1 Jakob, Guds og den Herres Jesu Kristi Tjener, hilser de tolv Stammer i Adspredelsen*. { [*iblandt Hedningerne. Joh. 7, 35.] }

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

2 Mine Brødre! agter det for idel Glæde, når I stedes i mange Hånde Prøvelser,

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

3 vidende, at eders Tros Prøve virker Udholdenhed;

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

4 men Udholdenheden bør medføre fuldkommen Gerning, for at I kunne være fuldkomne og uden Brøst, så I ikke stå tilbage i noget.

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 Men dersom nogen af eder fattes Visdom, han bede derom til Gud, som giver alle gerne og uden Bebrejdelse, så skal den gives ham.

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 Men han bede i Tro, uden at tvivle; thi den, som tvivler, ligner en Havets Bølge, der drives og kastes af Vinden.

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

7 Ikke må nemlig det Menneske mene, at han skal få noget af Her ren,

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

8 en tvesindet Mand, som han er, ustadig på alle sine Veje.

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

9 Men den Broder, som er ringe, rose sig af sin Højhed,

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 den rige derimod af sin Ringhed; thi han skal forgå som Græssets Blomst.

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 Thi Solen står op med sin Hede og hentørrer Græsset, og dets Blomst falder af, og dens Skikkelses Ynde forsvinder; således skal også den rige visne på sine Veje.

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 Salig den Mand, som holder Prøvelse ud; thi når han har stået Prøve, skal han få Livets Krans, som Herren har forjættet dem, der elske ham.

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

13 Ingen sige, når han fristes: “Jeg fristes af Gud;” thi Gud kan ikke fristes af det onde, og selv frister han ingen;

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

14 men enhver fristes, når han drages og lokkes af sin egen Begæring;

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

15 derefter, når Begæringen har undfanget, føder den Synd, men når Synden er fuldvoksen, føder den Død.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

16 Farer ikke vild, mine elskede Brødre!

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 Al god Gave og al fuldkommen Gave er ovenfra og kommer ned fra Lysenes Fader, hos hvem der ikke er Forandring eller skiftende Skygge*. { [*som Tilfældet er med Himmellysene smlgn. Visd. 7, 17-19.] }

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

18 Efter sin Villie fødte han os ved Sandheds Ord, for at vi skulde være en Førstegrøde af hans Skabninger.

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

19 I vide det, mine elskede Brødre. Men hvert Menneske være snar til at høre, langsom til at tale, langsom til Vrede;

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

20 thi en Mands Vrede udretter ikke det, som er ret for Gud.

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 Derfor, aflægger alt Smuds og Levning af Slethed, og modtager med Sagtmodighed Ordet, som er indplantet i eder, og som formår at frelse eders Sjæle.

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

22 Men vorder Ordets Gørere og ikke alene dets Hørere, hvormed I bedrage eder selv.

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 Thi dersom nogen er Ordets Hører og ikke dets Gører, han ligner en Mand, der betragter sit legemlige Ansigt i et Spejl;

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

24 thi han betragter sig selv og går bort og glemmer straks, hvor dan han var.

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 Men den, som skuer ind i Frihedens fuldkomne Lov og holder ved dermed, så han ikke bliver en glemsom Tilhører, men en Gerningens Gører, han skal være salig i sin Gerning.

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

26 Dersom nogen synes, at han dyrker Gud, og ikke holder sin Tunge i Tømme, men bedrager sit Hjerte, hans Gudsdyrkelse er forgæves.

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 En ren og ubesmittet Gudsdyrkelse for Gud og Faderen er dette, at besøge faderløse og Enker i deres Trængsel, at holde sig selv uplettet af Verden.