1
Ndugu zangu, imani ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, msiwe nayo kwa kupendelea watu.
My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
2
Maana akiingia katika sinagogi lenu mtu mwenye pete ya dhahabu na mavazi mazuri; kisha akiingia na maskini, mwenye mavazi mabovu;
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
3
nanyi mkimstahi yule aliyevaa mavazi mazuri, na kumwambia, Keti wewe hapa mahali pazuri; na kumwambia yule maskini, Simama wewe pale, au keti miguuni pangu,
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,”
4
je! Hamkufanya hitilafu mioyoni mwenu, mkawa waamuzi wenye mawazo mabovu?
have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5
Ndugu zangu wapenzi, sikilizeni, Je! Mungu hakuwachagua maskini wa dunia wawe matajiri wa imani na warithi wa ufalme aliowaahidia wampendao?
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?
6
Bali ninyi mmemvunjia heshima maskini. Je! Matajiri hawawaonei ninyi na kuwavuta mbele ya viti vya hukumu?
But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
7
Hawalitukani jina lile zuri mliloitwa?
Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?
8
Lakini mkiitimiza ile sheria ya kifalme kama ilivyoandikwa, Mpende jirani yako kama nafsi yako, mwatenda vema.
If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
9
Bali mkiwapendelea watu, mwafanya dhambi na kuhukumiwa na sheria kuwa wakosaji.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10
Maana mtu awaye yote atakayeishika sheria yote, ila akajikwaa katika neno moja, amekosa juu ya yote.
Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11
Kwa maana yeye aliyesema, Usizini, pia alisema, Usiue. Basi ijapokuwa hukuzini, lakini umeua, umekuwa mvunja sheria.
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.
12
Semeni ninyi, na kutenda kama watu watakaohukumiwa kwa sheria ya uhuru.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.
13
Maana hukumu haina huruma kwake yeye asiyeona huruma. Huruma hujitukuza juu ya hukumu.
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14
Ndugu zangu, yafaa nini, mtu akisema ya kwamba anayo imani, lakini hana matendo? Je! Ile imani yaweza kumwokoa?
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15
Ikiwa ndugu mwanamume au ndugu mwanamke yu uchi na kupungukiwa na riziki,
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16
na mtu wa kwenu akawaambia, Enendeni zenu kwa amani, mkaote moto na kushiba, lakini asiwape mahitaji ya mwili, yafaa nini?
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?
17
Vivyo hivyo na imani, isipokuwa ina matendo, imekufa nafsini mwake.
So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
18
Lakini mtu atasema, Wewe unayo imani, nami ninayo matendo. Nionyeshe imani yako pasipo matendo, nami nitakuonyesha imani yangu kwa njia ya matendo yangu.
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.
19
Wewe waamini ya kuwa Mungu ni mmoja; watenda vema. Mashetani nao waamini na kutetemeka.
You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20
Lakini wataka kujua, wewe mwanadamu usiye kitu, kwamba imani pasipo matendo haizai?
O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?
21
Je! Baba yetu Ibrahimu hakuhesabiwa kuwa ana haki kwa matendo, hapo alipomtoa Isaka mwanawe juu ya madhabahu?
Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22
Waona kwamba imani ilitenda kazi pamoja na matendo yake, na ya kwamba imani ile ilikamilishwa kwa njia ya matendo yale.
You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
23
Maandiko yale yakatimizwa yaliyonena, Ibrahimu alimwamini Mungu, ikahesabiwa kwake kuwa ni haki; naye aliitwa rafiki wa Mungu.
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.
24
Mwaona kwamba mwanadamu huhesabiwa kuwa ana haki kwa matendo yake; si kwa imani peke yake.
As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
25
Vivyo hivyo na Rahabu, yule kahaba naye, je! Hakuhesabiwa kuwa ana haki kwa matendo, hapo alipowakaribisha wajumbe, akawatoa nje kwa njia nyingine?
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?
26
Maana kama vile mwili pasipo roho umekufa, vivyo hivyo na imani pasipo matendo imekufa.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.