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

¹My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

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

²For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

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,"

³And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

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

⁴Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

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.

⁵Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

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

⁶But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

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

⁷Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

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

⁸If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

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

⁹But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

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

¹⁰For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

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

¹¹For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

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

¹²So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

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

¹³For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

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

¹⁴What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

¹⁵Tuseme kaka au dada hana nguo au chakula.

¹⁵If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

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

¹⁶And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

¹⁷Vivyo hivyo, imani peke yake bila matendo imekufa.

¹⁷Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

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.

¹⁸Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

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

¹⁹Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

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

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

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

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

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

²²Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

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

²³And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

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

²⁴Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

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

²⁵Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

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

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