¹My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [Lord] of glory, with respect of persons:

¹Ndugu zangu, mkiwa mnamwamini Bwana Yesu Kristo, Bwana wa utukufu, msiwabague watu kamwe.

²for if there come unto your synagogue a man with a gold ring in splendid apparel, and a poor man also come in in vile apparel,

²Tuseme mtu mmoja ambaye amevaa pete ya dhahabu na mavazi nadhifu anaingia katika mkutano wenu, na papo hapo akaingia mtu maskini aliyevaa mavazi machafu.

³and ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under my footstool:

³Ikiwa mtamstahi zaidi yule aliyevaa mavazi ya kuvutia na kumwambia: "Keti hapa mahali pazuri," na kumwambia yule maskini: "Wewe, simama huko," au "Keti hapa sakafuni miguuni pangu,"

⁴have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts?

⁴je, huo si ubaguzi kati yenu? Je, na huo uamuzi wenu haujatokana na fikira mbaya?

⁵Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him?

⁵Ndugu zangu wapenzi, sikilizeni! Mungu amechagua watu ambao ni maskini katika ulimwengu huu ili wapate kuwa matajiri katika imani na kupokea Utawala aliowaahidia wale wanaompenda.

⁶But *ye* have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] *they* drag you before [the] tribunals?

⁶Lakini ninyi mnawadharau watu maskini! Je, matajiri si ndio wanaowakandamizeni na kuwapeleka mahakamani?

⁷And [do not] *they* blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?

⁷Je, si haohao wanaolitukana hilo jina lenu zuri mlilopewa?

⁸If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.

⁸Kama mnaitimiza ile sheria ya Utawala kama ilivyoandikwa katika Maandiko Matakatifu: "Mpende binadamu mwenzako kama unavyojipenda wewe mwenyewe", mtakuwa mnafanya vema kabisa.

⁹But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

⁹Lakini mkiwabagua watu, basi, mwatenda dhambi, nayo Sheria inawahukumu ninyi kuwa mna hatia.

¹⁰For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one [point], he has come under the guilt of [breaking] all.

¹⁰Anayevunja amri mojawapo ya Sheria, atakuwa na hatia ya kuivunja Sheria yote.

¹¹For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become transgressor of [the] law.

¹¹Maana yuleyule aliyesema: "Usizini," alisema pia "Usiue". Kwa hiyo, hata ikiwa hukuzini lakini umeua, wewe umeivunja Sheria.

¹²So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;

¹²Basi, semeni na kutenda kama watu watakaohukumiwa kwa sheria iletayo uhuru.

¹³for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

¹³Maana, Mungu hatakuwa na huruma atakapomhukumu mtu asiyekuwa na huruma. Lakini huruma hushinda hukumu.

¹⁴What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?

¹⁴Ndugu zangu, kuna faida gani mtu kusema ana imani, lakini haonyeshi kwa vitendo? Je, hiyo imani yawezaje kumwokoa?

¹⁵Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

¹⁵Tuseme kaka au dada hana nguo au chakula.

¹⁶and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what [is] the profit?

¹⁶Yafaa kitu gani ninyi kuwaambia hao: "Nendeni salama mkaote moto na kushiba," bila kuwapatia mahitaji yao ya maisha?

¹⁷So also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.

¹⁷Vivyo hivyo, imani peke yake bila matendo imekufa.

¹⁸But some one will say, *Thou* hast faith and *I* have works. Shew me thy faith without works, and *I* from my works will shew thee my faith.

¹⁸Lakini mtu anaweza kusema: "Wewe unayo imani, mimi ninayo matendo!" Haya! Nionyeshe jinsi mtu anavyoweza kuwa na imani bila matendo, nami nitakuonyesha imani yangu kwa matendo yangu.

¹⁹*Thou* believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble.

¹⁹Je, wewe unaamini kwamba yuko Mungu mmoja? Sawa! Lakini hata pepo huamini hilo, na hutetemeka kwa hofu.

²⁰But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

²⁰Mpumbavu wee! Je, wataka kuonyeshwa kwamba imani bila matendo imekufa?

²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

²¹Je, Abrahamu baba yetu alipataje kukubalika mbele yake Mungu? Kwa matendo yake, wakati alipomtoa mwanae Isaka sadaka juu ya madhabahu.

²²Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected.

²²Waona basi, kwamba imani yake iliandamana na matendo yake; imani yake ilikamilishwa kwa matendo yake.

²³And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend of God.

²³Hivyo yakatimia yale Maandiko Matakatifu yasemayo: "Abrahamu alimwamini Mungu na kwa imani yake akakubaliwa kuwa mtu mwadilifu; na hivyo Abrahamu akaitwa rafiki wa Mungu."

²⁴Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only.

²⁴Mnaona basi, kwamba mtu hukubaliwa kuwa mwadilifu kwa matendo yake na si kwa imani peke yake.

²⁵But was not in like manner also Rahab the harlot justified on the principle of works, when she had received the messengers and put [them] forth by another way?

²⁵Ilikuwa vivyo hivyo kuhusu yule malaya Rahabu; yeye alikubaliwa kuwa mwadilifu kwa sababu aliwapokea wale wapelelezi na kuwasaidia waende zao kwa kupitia njia nyingine.

²⁶For as the body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

²⁶Basi, kama vile mwili bila roho umekufa, vivyo hivyo imani bila matendo imekufa.