1
Haya basi, enyi matajiri! Lieni, mkapige yowe kwa sababu ya mashaka yenu yanayowajia.
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
2
Mali zenu zimeoza, na mavazi yenu yameliwa na nondo.
Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.
3
Dhahabu yenu na fedha yenu zimeingia kutu, na kutu yake itawashuhudia, nayo itakula miili yenu kama moto. Mmejiwekea akiba katika siku za mwisho.
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.
4
Angalieni, ujira wa wakulima waliovuna mashamba yenu, ninyi mliouzuia kwa hila, unapiga kelele, na vilio vyao waliovuna vimeingia masikioni mwa Bwana wa majeshi.
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.
5
Mmefanya anasa katika dunia, na kujifurahisha kwa tamaa; mmejilisha mioyo yenu kama siku ya machinjo.
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.
6
Mmehukumu mwenye haki mkamwua; wala hashindani nanyi.
You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.
7
Kwa hiyo ndugu, vumilieni, hata kuja kwake Bwana. Tazama, mkulima hungoja mazao ya nchi yaliyo ya thamani, huvumilia kwa ajili yake hata yatakapopata mvua ya kwanza na ya mwisho.
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.
8
Nanyi vumilieni, mthibitishe mioyo yenu, kwa maana kuja kwake Bwana kunakaribia.
You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
9
Ndugu, msinung'unikiane, msije mkahukumiwa. Angalieni, mwamuzi amesimama mbele ya milango.
Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!
10
Ndugu, watwaeni manabii walionena kwa jina la Bwana, wawe mfano wa kustahimili mabaya, na wa uvumilivu.
Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11
Angalieni, twawaita heri wao waliosubiri. Mmesikia habari ya subira yake Ayubu, mmeuona mwisho wa Bwana ya kwamba Bwana ni mwingi wa rehema, mwenye huruma.
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.
12
Lakini zaidi ya yote, ndugu zangu, msiape, wala kwa mbingu wala kwa nchi; wala kwa kiapo kinginecho chote; bali ndiyo yenu na iwe ndiyo, na siyo yenu iwe siyo, msije mkaangukia hukumu.
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.
13
Mtu wa kwenu amepatikana na mabaya? Na aombe. Ana moyo wa kuchangamka? Na aimbe zaburi.
Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
14
Mtu wa kwenu amekuwa hawezi? Na awaite wazee wa kanisa; nao wamwombee, na kumpaka mafuta kwa jina la Bwana.
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.
15
Na kule kuomba kwa imani kutamwokoa mgonjwa yule, na Bwana atamwinua; hata ikiwa amefanya dhambi, atasamehewa.
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.
16
Ungameni dhambi zenu ninyi kwa ninyi, na kuombeana, mpate kuponywa. Kuomba kwake mwenye haki kwafaa sana, akiomba kwa bidii.
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.
17
Eliya alikuwa mwanadamu mwenye tabia moja na sisi, akaomba kwa bidii mvua isinyeshe, na mvua haikunyesha juu ya nchi muda wa miaka mitatu na miezi sita.
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.
18
Akaomba tena, mbingu zikatoa mvua, nayo nchi ikazaa matunda yake.
Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.
19
Ndugu zangu, ikiwa mtu wa kwenu amepotelea mbali na kweli, na mtu mwingine akamrejeza;
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
20
jueni ya kuwa yeye amrejezaye mwenye dhambi hata atoke katika njia ya upotevu, ataokoa roho na mauti, na kufunika wingi wa dhambi.
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.