James 1

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

1 Yakobo, mtumwa wa Mungu na wa Bwana Yesu Kristo: Kwa makabila kumi na mawili yaliyotawanyika ulimwenguni: Salamu.

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

2 Ndugu zangu, hesabuni kuwa ni furaha tupu mnapopatwa na majaribu mbalimbali,

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

3 kwa sababu mnajua ya kuwa kujaribiwa kwa imani yenu huleta saburi.

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

4 Saburi na iwe na kazi timilifu, ili mpate kuwa wakamilifu, mmekamilishwa, bila kupungukiwa na kitu chochote.

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 Kama mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu amepungukiwa na hekima na amwombe Mungu, yeye awapaye watu wote kwa ukarimu wala hana kinyongo, naye atapewa.

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 Lakini anapoomba, lazima aamini wala asiwe na shaka, kwa sababu mtu aliye na shaka ni kama wimbi la bahari, lililochukuliwa na upepo na kutupwa huku na huku.

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

7 Mtu kama huyo asidhani ya kuwa atapata kitu chochote kutoka kwa Bwana.

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

8 Yeye ni mtu mwenye nia mbili, mwenye kusitasita katika njia zake zote.

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

9 Ndugu asiye na cheo kikubwa yampasa ajivunie hali hiyo maana ametukuzwa.

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 Lakini yeye aliye tajiri afurahi kwa kuwa ameshushwa, kwa sababu atatoweka kama ua la shambani.

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 Kwa maana jua kali lenye kuchoma huchomoza na kuliunguza, likayakausha majani, na ua lake likapukutika, nao uzuri wake huharibika. Vivyo hivyo tajiri naye atanyauka akiwa anaendelea na shughuli zake.

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 Heri mtu anayevumilia wakati wa majaribu, kwa sababu akiisha kushinda hilo jaribio atapewa taji la uzima Mungu alilowaahidia wale wampendao.

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

13 Mtu anapojaribiwa asiseme, “Ninajaribiwa na Mungu.” Kwa maana Mungu hawezi kujaribiwa na maovu wala yeye hamjaribu mtu yeyote.

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

14 Lakini kila mtu hujaribiwa wakati anapovutwa na kudanganywa na tamaa zake mwenyewe zilizo mbaya.

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

15 Basi ile tamaa mbaya ikishachukua mimba, huzaa dhambi, nayo ile dhambi ikikomaa, huzaa mauti.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

16 Ndugu zangu wapendwa, msidanganyike.

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 Kila kitolewacho kilicho chema na kilicho kamili, hutoka juu, na hushuka kutoka kwa Baba wa mianga, ambaye kwake hakuna kubadilika, wala kivuli cha kugeukageuka.

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

18 Kwa mapenzi yake mwenyewe alituzaa kwa neno la kweli, kusudi tuwe kama mazao ya kwanza katika viumbe vyake vyote.

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

19 Ndugu zangu wapendwa, fahamuni jambo hili: Kila mtu awe mwepesi wa kusikiliza, lakini asiwe mwepesi wa kusema wala wa kukasirika.

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

20 Kwa maana hasira ya mwanadamu haitendi haki ya Mungu.

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 Kwa hiyo, ondoleeni mbali uchafu wote na uovu ambao umezidi kuwa mwingi, mkalipokee kwa unyenyekevu lile Neno lililopandwa ndani yenu ambalo laweza kuokoa nafsi zenu.

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

22 Basi kuweni watendaji wa Neno wala msiwe wasikiaji tu, huku mkijidanganya nafsi zenu.

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 Kwa maana kama mtu ni msikiaji tu wa Neno wala hatendi kile linachosema, yeye ni kama mtu ajitazamaye uso wake kwenye kioo

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

24 na baada ya kujiona alivyo, huenda zake na mara husahau jinsi alivyo.

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 Lakini yeye anayeangalia kwa bidii katika sheria kamilifu, ile iletayo uhuru, naye akaendelea kufanya hivyo bila kusahau alichosikia, bali akalitenda, atabarikiwa katika kile anachofanya.

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

26 Kama mtu akidhani ya kuwa anayo dini lakini hauzuii ulimi wake kwa hatamu, hujidanganya moyoni mwake, wala dini yake mtu huyo haifai kitu.

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 Dini iliyo safi, isiyo na uchafu, inayokubalika mbele za Mungu Baba yetu, ndiyo hii: Kuwasaidia yatima na wajane katika dhiki zao na kujilinda usitiwe madoa na dunia.