James

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

若有一個人戴著金戒指，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；

For 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;

你們就重看那穿華美衣服的人，說：「請坐在這好位上」；卻對那窮人說：「你站在那裡，或坐在我腳凳下邊」，

And 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:

這豈不是你們偏心待人，用惡意斷定人嗎？

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

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嗎？

Hearken, 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?

你們反倒羞辱貧窮人。那富足人豈不是欺壓你們，拉你們到公堂去嗎？

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

他們不是褻瀆你們所敬奉那美名嗎？

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

經上記著說：「要愛人如己」，你們若全守這至尊的律法才是好的。

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

但你們若按外貌待人，便是犯罪，被律法定為犯法的人。

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

因為凡遵守全律法的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。

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

原來那說「不可姦淫」的，也說「不可殺人」；你就是不姦淫，卻殺人，仍是成了犯律法的人。

For 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.

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。

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

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。

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

我的弟兄們，若有人說自己有信心，卻沒有行為，有什麼益處呢？這信心能救他嗎？

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

若是弟兄或是姐妹，赤身露體，又缺了日用的飲食，

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

你們中間有人對他們說：「平平安安地去吧！願你們穿得暖，吃得飽」，卻不給他們身體所需用的，這有什麼益處呢？

And 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?

這樣，信心若沒有行為就是死的。

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

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。

Yea, 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.

你信神只有一位，你信的不錯；鬼魔也信，卻是戰驚。

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

虛浮的人哪，你願意知道沒有行為的信心是死的嗎？

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

我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕把他兒子以撒獻在壇上，豈不是因行為稱義嗎？

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

可見信心是與他的行為並行，而且信心因著行為才得成全。

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

這就應驗了聖經所說：「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 which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

這樣看來，人稱義是因著行為，不是單因著信。

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

妓女喇合接待使者，又放他們從別的路出去，她不也是一樣因行為稱義嗎？

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

身體沒有靈魂是死的，信心沒有行為也是死的。

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