1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 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; 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: 4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 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? 6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 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. 12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Kuchita Tsankho Nʼkosaloledwa
1Abale anga, okhulupirira Yesu Khristu waulemerero, musaonetse tsankho. 2Tangoganizirani, pakati panu patabwera munthu atavala mphete yagolide ndi zovala zapamwamba, ndipo winanso wosauka nʼkulowa atavala sanza. 3Ngati musamala kwambiri munthu wovala bwinoyu uja, nʼkumuwuza kuti, “Khalani pa mpando wabwinowu,” koma wosauka uja nʼkumuwuza kuti, “Ima apo,” kapena “Khala pansi pafupi ndi chopondapo mapazi angawa,” 4kodi simunachite tsankho pakati panu ndi kukhala oweruza a maganizo oyipa?
5Tamverani abale anga okondedwa, kodi Mulungu sanasankhe amene dziko lapansi limawaona ngati amphawi kuti akhale olemera mʼchikhulupiriro ndi kulowa ufumu umene Iye analonjeza kwa amene amamukonda? 6Koma mwakhala mukunyoza amphawi. Kodi si anthu olemerawa amene akukudyerani masuku pamutu? Si anthu amenewa amene amakukokerani ku bwalo la milandu? 7Kodi si omwewa amene amachita chipongwe dzina la wolemekezeka, limene inu mumatchulidwa?
8Ngati musungadi lamulo laufumu lija lopezeka mʼMalemba lakuti, “Konda mnansi wako monga iwe mwini,” ndiye kuti mukuchita bwino. 9Koma mukamaonetsa tsankho mukuchimwa, ndipo ndinu wochimwa monga wophwanya lamulo. 10Pakuti amene amasunga Malamulo onse, akangophwanya fundo imodzi yokha, waphwanya Malamulo onse. 11Pakuti amene anati “Usachite chigololo” ndi yemweyonso anati “Usaphe.” Ngati suchita chigololo koma umapha, ndiwe wophwanya Malamulo.
12Muziyankhula ndi kuchita zinthu monga anthu amene mudzaweruzidwe ndi lamulo limene limapereka ufulu, 13chifukwa munthu woweruza mopanda chifundo, nayenso adzaweruzidwa mopanda chifundo. Chifundo chimapambana pa chiweruzo.
Chikhulupiriro ndi Ntchito Zabwino
14Abale anga, phindu lake nʼchiyani ngati munthu anena kuti ali ndi chikhulupiriro koma chopanda ntchito zabwino? Kodi chikhulupiriro choterechi chingamupulumutse? 15Tangoganizirani, mʼbale kapena mlongo amene ali ndi usiwa, ndipo alibe chakudya cha tsiku ndi tsiku. 16Ngati mmodzi wa inu amuwuza kuti, “Pita ndi mtendere, ukafundidwe ndipo ukakhute,” koma osamupatsa zimene akuzisowa, phindu lake nʼchiyani pamenepa? 17Chomwechonso, chikhulupiriro chokha chopanda ntchito zabwino ndi chakufa.
18Koma wina anganene kuti, “Inuyo muli ndi chikhulupiriro koma ine ndili ndi ntchito zabwino.”
Onetsani chikhulupiriro chanu chopanda ntchito zabwino ndipo ineyo ndidzakuonetsani chikhulupiriro changa pochita ntchito zabwino. 19Mumakhulupirira kuti kuli Mulungu mmodzi yekha. Mumachita bwino. Komatu ngakhale ziwanda zimakhulupirira zimenezi ndipo zimanjenjemera ndi mantha.
20Munthu wopusa iwe, kodi ukufuna umboni woti chikhulupiriro chopanda ntchito zabwino nʼchakufa? 21Kodi Abrahamu kholo lathu sanatengedwe kukhala wolungama chifukwa cha zimene anachita pamene anapereka mwana wake Isake pa guwa lansembe? 22Tsono mukuona kuti chikhulupiriro chake ndi ntchito zabwino zinkachitika pamodzi, ndipo chikhulupiriro chake chinasanduka chenicheni chifukwa cha ntchito zake zabwino. 23Ndipo Malemba akunena kuti, “Abrahamu anakhulupirira Mulungu ndipo anatengedwa kukhala wolungama,” ndipo anatchedwa bwenzi la Mulungu. 24Tsono mukuona kuti munthu amasanduka wolungama ndi ntchito zabwino osati ndi chikhulupiriro chokha ayi.
25Nʼchimodzimodzinso, kodi wadama uja, Rahabe, sanasanduke wolungama chifukwa cha zomwe anachita pamene anapereka malo ogona kwa azondi aja ndi kuwathawitsira mbali ina? 26Monga thupi lopanda mzimu ndi lakufa, chomwechonso chikhulupiriro chopanda ntchito zabwino ndi chakufa.
