James 5

1 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.

1 Basi sikilizeni, ninyi matajiri, lieni na kuomboleza kwa ajili ya hali mbaya sana inayowajia.

2 Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.

2 Utajiri wenu umeoza na mavazi yenu yameliwa na nondo.

3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

3 Dhahabu yenu na fedha yenu vimeliwa na kutu. Kutu yake itashuhudia dhidi yenu nayo itaila miili yenu kama vile moto. Mmejiwekea hazina kwa ajili ya siku za mwisho.

4 Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

4 Angalieni! Ule ujira wa vibarua waliolima mashamba yenu mliouzuia kwa hila unapiga kelele dhidi yenu na vilio vya wavunaji vimefika masikioni mwa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.

5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

5 Mmeishi duniani kwa anasa na kwa starehe, mmejinenepesha tayari kwa siku ya kuchinjwa.

6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.

6 Mmewahukumu na kuwaua watu wenye haki, waliokuwa hawapingani nanyi.

7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.

7 Kwa hiyo, ndugu zangu, vumilieni hadi kuja kwake Bwana. Angalieni jinsi mkulima angojavyo ardhi itoe mavuno yake yaliyo ya thamani na jinsi anavyovumilia kwa ajili ya kupata mvua za kwanza na za mwisho.

8 You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

8 Ninyi nanyi vumilieni, tena simameni imara, kwa sababu kuja kwa Bwana kumekaribia.

9 Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

9 Ndugu zangu, msinungʼunikiane msije mkahukumiwa. Hakimu amesimama mlangoni!

10 Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

10 Ndugu zangu, waangalieni manabii walionena kwa Jina la Bwana, ili kuwa mfano wa uvumilivu katika kukabiliana na mateso.

11 See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

11 Kama mnavyojua, tunawahesabu kuwa wabarikiwa wale waliovumilia. Mmesikia habari za uvumilivu wake Ayubu na mmeona kile ambacho hatimaye Bwana alimtendea. Bwana ni mwingi wa huruma, na amejaa rehema.

12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

12 Zaidi ya yote, ndugu zangu, msiape, iwe kwa mbingu au kwa dunia, au kwa kitu kingine chochote. “Ndiyo” yenu na iwe ndiyo, na “Hapana” yenu iwe hapana, la sivyo mtahukumiwa.

13 Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

13 Je, mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu amepatwa na taabu? Basi inampasa aombe. Je, kuna yeyote mwenye furaha? Basi na aimbe nyimbo za kusifu.

14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

14 Je, kuna yeyote miongoni mwenu aliye mgonjwa? Basi inampasa awaite wazee wa kanisa wamwombee na kumpaka mafuta kwa Jina la Bwana.

15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

15 Kule kuomba kwa imani kutamwokoa huyo mgonjwa, naye Bwana atamwinua na kama ametenda dhambi, atasamehewa.

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

16 Kwa hiyo ungamianeni dhambi zenu ninyi kwa ninyi na kuombeana ili mpate kuponywa. Maombi ya mwenye haki yana nguvu tena yanafaa sana.

17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

17 Eliya alikuwa mwanadamu kama sisi. Akaomba kwa bidii kwamba mvua isinyeshe, nayo haikunyesha juu ya nchi kwa muda wa miaka mitatu na miezi sita.

18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.

18 Kisha akaomba tena, nazo mbingu zikatoa mvua nayo ardhi ikatoa mazao yake.

19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,

19 Ndugu zangu, yeyote miongoni mwenu akipotoka na kuicha kweli, naye akarejezwa na mtu mwingine,

20 consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

20 hamna budi kujua kwamba yeyote amrejezaye mwenye dhambi kutoka upotovu wake, ataiokoa roho ya huyo mwenye dhambi kutoka mauti na kusitiri wingi wa dhambi.