James 2

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

1 Ndugu zangu, kama waaminio katika imani ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, msiwe na upendeleo kwa watu.

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 Kwa maana kama akija mtu katika kusanyiko lenu akiwa amevaa pete ya dhahabu na mavazi mazuri, pia akaingia mtu maskini mwenye mavazi yaliyochakaa,

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 nanyi mkampa heshima yule aliyevaa mavazi mazuri na kumwambia, “Keti hapa mahali pazuri,” lakini yule maskini mkamwambia, “Wewe simama pale,” au “Keti hapa sakafuni karibu na miguu yangu,”

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

4 je, hamjawabagua na kuwa mahakimu mioyoni mwenu mkihukumu kwa mawazo yenu maovu?

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 Ndugu zangu, sikilizeni: Je, Mungu hakuwachagua wale walio maskini machoni pa ulimwengu kuwa matajiri katika imani na kuurithi Ufalme aliowaahidi wale wampendao?

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

6 Lakini ninyi mmemdharau yule aliye maskini. Je, hao matajiri si ndio wanaowadhulumu na kuwaburuta mahakamani?

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

7 Je, si wao wanaolikufuru Jina lile lililo bora sana mliloitiwa?

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

8 Kama kweli mnaitimiza ile sheria ya kifalme inayopatikana katika Maandiko isemayo, “Mpende jirani yako kama unavyoipenda nafsi yako,” mnafanya vyema.

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

9 Lakini kama mnakuwa na upendeleo kwa watu, mnatenda dhambi, na sheria inawahukumu kuwa ninyi ni wakosaji.

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

10 Kwa maana mtu yeyote anayeishika sheria yote lakini akajikwaa katika kipengele kimoja tu, ana hatia ya kuivunja sheria yote.

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 Kwa sababu yeye aliyesema, “Usizini,” alisema pia, “Usiue.” Basi kama huzini lakini unaua, umekuwa mvunjaji wa sheria.

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

12 Hivyo semeni na kutenda kama watu watakaohukumiwa kwa sheria ile iletayo uhuru.

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

13 Kwa kuwa hukumu bila huruma itatolewa kwa mtu yeyote asiyekuwa na huruma. Huruma huishinda hukumu.

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

14 Ndugu zangu, yafaa nini ikiwa mtu atadai kuwa anayo imani lakini hana matendo? Je, imani kama hiyo yaweza kumwokoa?

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

15 Ikiwa ndugu yako au dada hana mavazi wala chakula,

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 mmoja wenu akamwambia, “Enenda zako kwa amani, ukaote moto na kushiba,” pasipo kumpatia yale mahitaji ya mwili aliyopungukiwa, yafaa nini?

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

17 Vivyo hivyo, imani peke yake kama haikuambatana na matendo, imekufa.

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 Lakini mtu mwingine atasema, “Wewe unayo imani; mimi ninayo matendo.” Nionyeshe imani yako pasipo matendo nami nitakuonyesha imani yangu kwa matendo.

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

19 Unaamini kwamba kuna Mungu mmoja. Vyema! Hata mashetani yanaamini hivyo na kutetemeka.

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

20 Ewe mpumbavu! Je, wataka kujua kwamba imani bila matendo haifai kitu?

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

21 Je, Abrahamu baba yetu hakuhesabiwa haki kwa kile alichotenda, alipomtoa mwanawe Isaki madhabahuni?

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

22 Unaona jinsi ambavyo imani yake na matendo yake vilikuwa vinatenda kazi pamoja, nayo imani yake ikakamilishwa na kile alichotenda.

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 Kwa njia hiyo yakatimizwa yale Maandiko yasemayo, “Abrahamu alimwamini Mungu na ikahesabiwa kwake kuwa haki,” naye akaitwa rafiki wa Mungu.

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

24 Mnaona ya kwamba mtu huhesabiwa haki kwa yale anayotenda wala si kwa imani peke yake.

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 Vivyo hivyo, hata Rahabu, yule kahaba, hakuhesabiwa haki kwa yale aliyotenda alipowapokea wale wapelelezi na kuwaambia waende njia nyingine?

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

26 Kama vile ambavyo mwili pasipo roho umekufa, kadhalika nayo imani pasipo matendo imekufa.