James 2

1 My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.

1 我的弟兄們，你們信奉我們榮耀的主耶穌基督，便不可按着外貌待人。

2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

2 若有一個人帶着金戒指，穿着華美衣服，進你們的會堂去；又有一個窮人穿着骯髒衣服也進去；

3 If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”

3 你們就重看那穿華美衣服的人，說：「請坐在這好位上」；又對那窮人說：「你站在那裏」，或「坐在我腳凳下邊。」

4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

4 這豈不是你們偏心待人，用惡意斷定人嗎？

5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

5 我親愛的弟兄們，請聽，上帝豈不是揀選了世上的貧窮人，叫他們在信上富足，並承受他所應許給那些愛他之人的國嗎？

6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

6 你們反倒羞辱貧窮人。那富足人豈不是欺壓你們、拉你們到公堂去嗎？

7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

7 他們不是褻瀆你們所敬奉 的尊名嗎？

8 If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

8 經上記着說：「要愛人如己。」你們若全守這至尊的律法才是好的。

9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

9 但你們若按外貌待人，便是犯罪，被律法定為犯法的。

10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

10 因為凡遵守全律法的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。

11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

11 原來那說「不可姦淫」的，也說「不可殺人」；你就是不姦淫，卻殺人，仍是成了犯律法的。

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

12 你們既然要按使人自由的律法受審判，就該照這律法說話行事。

13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

13 因為那不憐憫人的，也要受無憐憫的審判；憐憫原是向審判誇勝。

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

14 我的弟兄們，若有人說自己有信心，卻沒有行為，有甚麼益處呢？這信心能救他嗎？

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

15 若是弟兄或是姊妹，赤身露體，又缺了日用的飲食；

16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

16 你們中間有人對他們說：「平平安安地去吧！願你們穿得暖，吃得飽」，卻不給他們身體所需用的，這有甚麼益處呢？

17 So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.

17 這樣，信心若沒有行為就是死的。

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

18 必有人說：「你有信心，我有行為；你將你沒有行為的信心指給我看，我便藉着我的行為，將我的信心指給你看。」

19 You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

19 你信上帝只有一位，你信的不錯；鬼魔也信，卻是戰驚。

20 O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?

20 虛浮的人哪，你願意知道沒有行為的信心是死的嗎？

21 Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

21 我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕把他兒子以撒獻在壇上，豈不是因行為稱義嗎？

22 You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

22 可見，信心是與他的行為並行，而且信心因着行為才得成全。

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

23 這就應驗經上所說：「亞伯拉罕信上帝，這就算為他的義。」他又得稱為上帝的朋友。

24 As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

24 這樣看來，人稱義是因着行為，不是單因着信。

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

25 妓女喇合接待使者，又放他們從別的路上出去，不也是一樣因行為稱義嗎？

26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

26 身體沒有靈魂是死的，信心沒有行為也是死的。