1
Yakobo, mtumwa wa Mungu, na wa Bwana Yesu Kristo, kwa kabila kumi na mbili waliotawanyika; salamu.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
2
Ndugu zangu, hesabuni ya kuwa ni furaha tupu, mkiangukia katika majaribu mbalimbali;
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
3
mkifahamu ya kuwa kujaribiwa kwa imani yenu huleta saburi.
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4
Saburi na iwe na kazi kamilifu, mpate kuwa wakamilifu na watimilifu bila kupungukiwa na neno.
Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5
Lakini mtu wa kwenu akipungukiwa na hekima, na aombe dua kwa Mungu, awapaye wote, kwa ukarimu, wala hakemei; naye atapewa.
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.
6
Ila na aombe kwa imani, pasipo shaka yo yote; maana mwenye shaka ni kama wimbi la bahari lililochukuliwa na upepo, na kupeperushwa huku na huku.
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.
7
Maana mtu kama yule asidhani ya kuwa atapokea kitu kwa Bwana.
That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8
Mtu wa nia mbili husita-sita katika njia zake zote.
He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9
Lakini ndugu asiye na cheo na afurahi kwa kuwa ametukuzwa;
The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
10
bali tajiri kwa kuwa ameshushwa; kwa maana kama ua la majani atatoweka.
But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
11
Maana jua huchomoza kwa hari, huyakausha majani; ua lake huanguka, uzuri wa umbo lake hupotea; vivyo hivyo naye tajiri atanyauka katika njia zake.
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.
12
Heri mtu astahimiliye majaribu; kwa sababu akiisha kukubaliwa ataipokea taji ya uzima, Bwana aliyowaahidia wampendao.
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.
13
Mtu ajaribiwapo, asiseme, Ninajaribiwa na Mungu; maana Mungu hawezi kujaribiwa na maovu, wala yeye mwenyewe hamjaribu mtu.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
14
Lakini kila mmoja hujaribiwa na tamaa yake mwenyewe huku akivutwa na kudanganywa.
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
15
Halafu ile tamaa ikiisha kuchukua mimba huzaa dhambi, na ile dhambi ikiisha kukomaa huzaa mauti.
Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16
Ndugu zangu wapenzi, msidanganyike.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
17
Kila kutoa kuliko kwema, na kila kitolewacho kilicho kamili, hutoka juu, hushuka kwa Baba wa mianga; kwake hakuna kubadilika, wala kivuli cha kugeuka-geuka.
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.
18
Kwa kupenda kwake mwenyewe alituzaa sisi kwa neno la kweli, tuwe kama limbuko la viumbe vyake.
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
19
Hayo mnajua, ndugu zangu wapenzi. Basi kila mtu na awe mwepesi wa kusikia, bali si mwepesi wa kusema; wala kukasirika;
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
20
kwa maana hasira ya mwanadamu haiitendi haki ya Mungu.
for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
21
Kwa hiyo wekeeni mbali uchafu wote na ubaya uzidio, na kupokea kwa upole neno lile lililopandwa ndani, liwezalo kuziokoa roho zenu.
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.
22
Lakini iweni watendaji wa neno, wala si wasikiaji tu, hali mkijidanganya nafsi zenu.
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
23
Kwa sababu mtu akiwa ni msikiaji wa neno tu, wala si mtendaji, mtu huyo ni kama mtu anayejiangalia uso wake katika kioo.
For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,
24
Maana hujiangalia, kisha huenda zake, mara akasahau jinsi alivyo.
and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25
Lakini aliyeitazama sheria kamilifu iliyo ya uhuru, na kukaa humo, asiwe msikiaji msahaulifu, bali mtendaji wa kazi, huyo atakuwa heri katika kutenda kwake.
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.
26
Mtu akidhani ya kuwa anayo dini, wala hauzuii ulimi wake kwa hatamu, hali akijidanganya moyo wake, dini yake mtu huyo haifai.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
27
Dini iliyo safi, isiyo na taka mbele za Mungu Baba ni hii, Kwenda kuwatazama yatima na wajane katika dhiki yao, na kujilinda na dunia pasipo mawaa.
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.