雅各書
CH. 2
1
我的弟兄們、你們信奉我們榮耀的主耶穌基督、便不可按著外貌待人。

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
2
若有一個人帶著金戒指、穿著華美衣服、進你們的會堂去.又有一個窮人、穿著骯髒衣服也進去.

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
你們就看重那穿華美衣服的人、說、請坐在這好位上.又對那窮人說、你站在那裡、或坐在我腳凳下邊.

If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"
4
這豈不是你們偏心待人、用惡意斷定人麼。

have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5
我親愛的弟兄們請聽、 神豈不是揀選了世上的貧窮人、叫他們在信上富足、並承受他所應許給那些愛他之人的國麼。

Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
6
你們反倒羞辱貧窮人。那富足人豈不是欺壓你們、拉你們到公堂去麼。

But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
7
他們不是褻瀆你們所敬奉的尊名麼。〔所敬奉或作作被稱〕

Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8
經上記著說、『要愛人如己。』你們若全守這至尊的律法纔是好的.

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.
9
但你們若按外貌待人、便是犯罪、被律法定為犯法的。

But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
10
因為凡遵守全律法的、只在一條上跌倒、他就是犯了眾條。

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11
原來那說不可姦淫的、也說不可殺人.你就是不姦淫、卻殺人、仍是成了犯律法的。

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
你們既然要按使人自由的律法受審判、就該照這律法說話行事。

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
13
因為那不憐憫人的、也要受無憐憫的審判.憐憫原是向審判誇勝。

because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
14
我的弟兄們、若有人說、自己有信心、卻沒有行為、有甚麼益處呢.這信心能救他麼。

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15
若是弟兄、或是姐妹、赤身露體、又缺了日用的飲食、

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16
你們中間有人對他們說、平平安安的去罷、願你們穿得煖喫得飽.卻不給他們身體所需用的、這有甚麼益處呢。

If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
17
這樣、信心若沒有行為就是死的。

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18
必有人說、你有信心、我有行為.你將你沒有行為的信心指給我看、我便藉著我的行為、將我的信心指給你看。

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19
你信 神只有一位、你信的不錯.鬼魔也信、卻是戰驚。

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
20
虛浮的人哪、你願意知道沒有行為的信心是死的麼。

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
21
我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕、把他兒子以撒獻在壇上、豈不是因行為稱義麼。

Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22
可見信心是與他的行為並行、而且信心因著行為纔得成全.

You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23
這就應驗經上所說、『亞伯拉罕信 神、這就算為他的義。』他又得稱為 神的朋友。

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24
這樣看來、人稱義是因著行為、不是單因著信。

You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25
妓女喇合接待使者、又放他們從別的路上出去、不也是一樣因行為稱義麼。

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
26
身體沒有靈魂是死的、信心沒有行為也是死的。

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.