James 1
| 1:1 | James, dienaar van God en van onse Here Jesus Christus, aan die twaalf stamme van die verstrooiing, groete. |
| 1:2 | My broers, wanneer jy in verskeie beproewinge beland het, beskou alles as 'n vreugde, |
| 1:3 | met die wete dat die beproewing van jou geloof geduld oefen, |
| 1:4 | en geduld bring 'n werk tot volmaaktheid, sodat jy volmaak en heel kan wees, gebrek aan niks. |
| 1:5 | Maar as iemand onder julle wysheid nodig het, laat hy God smeek, wat aan almal oorvloedig gee sonder om te verwyt, en dit sal aan hom gegee word. |
| 1:6 | Maar hy moet met geloof vra, niks twyfel nie. Want wie twyfel, is soos 'n golf op die see, wat deur die wind beweeg en weggevoer word; |
| 1:7 | dan moet 'n mens nie dink dat hy iets van die Here sou ontvang nie. |
| 1:8 | Want 'n man wat tweesinds is, is onbestendig in al sy weë. |
| 1:9 | Nou moet 'n nederige broer roem in sy verhoging, |
| 1:10 | en 'n ryk een, in sy vernedering, want hy sal verbygaan soos 'n blom van die gras. |
| 1:11 | Want die son het met 'n versengende hitte opgekom, en het die gras gedroog, en sy blom het afgeval, en die voorkoms van sy skoonheid het vergaan. So sal ook die ryke verwelk, volgens sy paaie. |
| 1:12 | Geseënd is die man wat in versoeking ly. Want wanneer hy bewys is, hy sal die kroon van die lewe ontvang wat God beloof het aan die wat hom liefhet. |
| 1:13 | Niemand moet sê nie, wanneer hy versoek word, dat hy deur God versoek is. Want God verlei nie tot euwels nie, en self versoek hy niemand nie. |
| 1:14 | Tog waarlik, elkeen word deur sy eie begeertes versoek, verlok en weggetrek. |
| 1:15 | Daarna, wanneer begeerte swanger geword het, dit gee geboorte aan sonde. Tog waarlik sonde, wanneer dit voltrek is, bring die dood voort. |
| 1:16 | En so, kies nie om te dwaal nie, my mees geliefde broers. |
| 1:17 | Elke uitstekende geskenk en elke volmaakte geskenk is van bo, neerdaal van die Vader van die ligte, by wie daar geen verandering is nie, ook nie enige skaduwee van verandering nie. |
| 1:18 | Want deur sy eie wil het Hy ons voortgebring deur die Woord van die waarheid, sodat ons 'n soort begin onder sy skepsele kan wees. |
| 1:19 | Jy weet dit, my mees geliefde broers. Laat elke man dus gou wees om te luister, maar stadig om te praat en stadig om kwaad te word. |
| 1:20 | Want die toorn van die mens bring nie die geregtigheid van God tot stand nie. |
| 1:21 | As gevolg hiervan, deur alle onreinheid en 'n oorvloed van boosheid weg te gooi, ontvang met sagmoedigheid die nuut-geënte Woord, wat in staat is om julle siele te red. |
| 1:22 | Wees dus daders van die Woord, en nie net luisteraars nie, bedrieg julleself. |
| 1:23 | Want as iemand 'n luisteraar van die Woord is, maar nie ook 'n doener nie, hy is vergelykbaar met 'n man wat in 'n spieël kyk op die gesig waarmee hy gebore is; |
| 1:24 | en nadat hy homself oorweeg het, hy het weggegaan en dadelik vergeet wat hy gesien het. |
| 1:25 | Maar hy wat na die volmaakte wet van vryheid kyk, en wie daarin bly, is nie 'n vergeetagtige hoorder nie, maar in plaas daarvan 'n dader van die werk. Hy sal geseën word in wat hy doen. |
| 1:26 | Maar as iemand homself as godsdienstig beskou, maar hy hou nie sy tong in bedwang nie, maar in plaas daarvan verlei sy eie hart: so iemand se godsdiens is ydelheid. |
| 1:27 | Dit is godsdiens, rein en onbesmet voor God die Vader: om weeskinders en weduwees in hulle verdrukking te besoek, en om jouself onberispelik te hou, afgesien van hierdie ouderdom. |
James 2
| 2:1 | My broers, in die glorieryke geloof van onse Here Jesus Christus, moenie kies om begunstiging teenoor persone te toon nie. |
| 2:2 | Want as iemand in jou vergadering ingekom het met 'n goue ring en pragtige kleed, en as daar ook 'n arm man ingegaan het, in vuil klere, |
| 2:3 | en as jy dan oplettend is vir die een wat in uitstekende drag geklee is, sodat jy vir hom sê, “Jy mag op hierdie goeie plek sit,” maar jy sê vir die arme man, “Jy staan daar oorkant,” of, “Sit onder my voetbank,” |
| 2:4 | oordeel julle nie binne julleself nie, en het julle nie regters geword met onregverdige gedagtes nie? |
| 2:5 | My mees geliefde broers, luister. Het God nie die armes in hierdie wêreld uitverkies om ryk te wees in geloof en erfgename van die koninkryk wat God beloof het aan die wat Hom liefhet nie? |
| 2:6 | Maar jy het die armes oneer aangedoen. Is dit nie die rykes wat jou deur mag verdruk nie? En is dit nie hulle wat jou tot die oordeel sleep nie? |
| 2:7 | Is dit nie hulle wat die goeie naam belaster wat oor julle uitgeroep is nie? |
| 2:8 | So as jy die koninklike wet vervolmaak, volgens die Skrifte, “Jy moet jou naaste liefhê soos jouself,” dan doen jy goed. |
| 2:9 | Maar as jy begunstiging aan persone toon, dan doen jy sonde, weer deur die wet as oortreders skuldig bevind is. |
| 2:10 | Wie nou die hele wet onderhou het, tog wie beledig in een saak, het aan almal skuldig geword. |
| 2:11 | Vir hy wat gesê het, “Jy mag nie egbreuk pleeg nie,” ook gesê, “Jy mag nie doodslaan nie.” So as jy nie egbreuk pleeg nie, maar jy maak dood, jy het 'n oortreder van die wet geword. |
| 2:12 | So praat en tree op net soos jy begin om geoordeel te word, deur die wet van vryheid. |
| 2:13 | Want die oordeel is sonder barmhartigheid oor hom wat nie barmhartigheid bewys het nie. Maar barmhartigheid verhef homself bo die oordeel. |
| 2:14 | My broers, watter voordeel is daar as iemand beweer dat hy geloof het, maar hy het nie werke nie? Hoe sou geloof hom kon red? |
| 2:15 | So as 'n broer of suster naak is en daagliks kos nodig het, |
| 2:16 | en as iemand van julle vir hulle sou sê: “Gaan in vrede, hou warm en gevoed,” en gee hulle tog nie die dinge wat vir die liggaam nodig is nie, van watter voordeel is dit? |
| 2:17 | So selfs geloof, as dit nie werke het nie, is dood, op sigself. |
| 2:18 | Nou kan iemand sê: “Jy het geloof, en ek het werke.” Wys my jou geloof sonder werke! Maar Ek sal julle my geloof deur werke toon. |
| 2:19 | Jy glo dat daar een God is. Jy doen goed. Maar die demone glo ook, en hulle sidder baie. |
| 2:20 | So dan, is jy bereid om te verstaan, O dwase man, dat geloof sonder werke dood is? |
| 2:21 | Was ons vader Abraham nie geregverdig deur werke nie, deur sy seun Isak op die altaar te offer? |
| 2:22 | Sien jy dat geloof saamgewerk het met sy werke, en dat geloof deur middel van werke tot vervulling gebring is? |
| 2:23 | En so is die Skrif vervul wat sê: “Abraham het God geglo, en dit is aan hom gereken tot geregtigheid.” En daarom is hy die vriend van God genoem. |
| 2:24 | Sien jy dat 'n mens geregverdig word deur werke, en nie deur geloof alleen nie? |
| 2:25 | Net so ook, Rahab, the harlot, was she not justified by works, by receiving the messengers and sending them out through another way? |
| 2:26 | Want net soos die liggaam sonder die gees dood is, so is ook die geloof sonder werke dood. |
James 3
| 3:1 | My broers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment. |
| 3:2 | For we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around. |
| 3:3 | For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around. |
| 3:4 | Consider also the ships, watter, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will. |
| 3:5 | So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest. |
| 3:6 | And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell. |
| 3:7 | For the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature. |
| 3:8 | But no man is able to rule over the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison. |
| 3:9 | By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God. |
| 3:10 | From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My broers, these things ought not to be so! |
| 3:11 | Does a fountain emit, out of the same opening, both sweet and bitter water? |
| 3:12 | My broers, can the fig tree yield grapes? Or the vine, figs? Then neither is salt water able to produce fresh water. |
| 3:13 | Who is wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom. |
| 3:14 | But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth. |
| 3:15 | For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical. |
| 3:16 | For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work. |
| 3:17 | But within the wisdom that is from above, beslis, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness. |
| 3:18 | And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace. |
James 4
| 4:1 | Where do wars and contentions among you come from? Is it not from this: from your own desires, which battle within your members? |
| 4:2 | You desire, and you do not have. You envy and you kill, and you are unable to obtain. You argue and you fight, and you do not have, because you do not ask. |
| 4:3 | You ask and you do not receive, because you ask badly, so that you may use it toward your own desires. |
| 4:4 | You adulterers! Do you not know that the friendship of this world is hostile to God? Daarom, whoever has chosen to be a friend of this world has been made into an enemy of God. |
| 4:5 | Or do you think that Scripture says in vain: “The spirit which lives within you desires unto envy?” |
| 4:6 | But he gives a greater grace. Therefore he says: “God resists the arrogant, but he gives grace to the humble.” |
| 4:7 | Daarom, be subject to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. |
| 4:8 | Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners! And purify your hearts, you duplicitous souls! |
| 4:9 | Be afflicted: mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your gladness into sorrow. |
| 4:10 | Be humbled in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. |
| 4:11 | Broers, do not choose to slander one another. Whoever slanders his brother, or whoever judges his brother, slanders the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. |
| 4:12 | There is one lawgiver and one judge. He is able to destroy, and he is able to set free. |
| 4:13 | But who are you to judge your neighbor? Oorweeg dit, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into that city, and certainly we will spend a year there, and we will do business, and we will make our profit,” |
| 4:14 | consider that you do not know what will be tomorrow. |
| 4:15 | For what is your life? It is a mist that appears for a brief time, and afterwards will vanish away. So what you ought to say is: “If the Lord wills,” of, “If we live,” we will do this or that. |
| 4:16 | But now you exult in your arrogance. All such exultation is wicked. |
| 4:17 | Daarom, he who knows that he ought to do a good thing, and does not do it, for him it is a sin. |
James 5
| 5:1 | Act now, you who are wealthy! Weep and wail in your miseries, which will soon come upon you! |
| 5:2 | Your riches have been corrupted, and your garments have been eaten by moths. |
| 5:3 | Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be a testimony against you, and it will eat away at your flesh like fire. You have stored up wrath for yourselves unto the last days. |
| 5:4 | Consider the pay of the workers who reaped your fields: it has been misappropriated by you; it cries out. And their cry has entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts. |
| 5:5 | You have feasted upon the earth, and you have nourished your hearts with luxuries, unto the day of slaughter. |
| 5:6 | You led away and killed the Just One, and he did not resist you. |
| 5:7 | Daarom, be patient, broers, until the advent of the Lord. Consider that the farmer anticipates the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently, until he receives the early and the late rains. |
| 5:8 | Daarom, you too should be patient and should strengthen your hearts. For the advent of the Lord draws near. |
| 5:9 | Broers, do not complain against one another, sodat julle nie geoordeel word nie. Kyk, the judge stands before the door. |
| 5:10 | My broers, consider the Prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of departing from evil, of labor, and of patience. |
| 5:11 | Consider that we beatify those who have endured. You have heard of the patient suffering of Job. And you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate. |
| 5:12 | But before all things, my broers, do not choose to swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor in any other oath. But let your word ‘Yes’ be yes, and your word ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under judgment. |
| 5:13 | Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he even-tempered? Let him sing psalms. |
| 5:14 | Is anyone ill among you? Let him bring in the priests of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. |
| 5:15 | And a prayer of faith will save the infirm, and the Lord will alleviate him. And if he has sins, these will be forgiven him. |
| 5:16 | Daarom, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be saved. For the unremitting prayer of a just person prevails over many things. |
| 5:17 | Elijah was a mortal man like us, and in prayer he prayed that it would not rain upon the earth. And it did not rain for three years and six months. |
| 5:18 | And he prayed again. And the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. |
| 5:19 | My broers, if anyone of you strays from the truth, and if someone converts him, |
| 5:20 | he ought to know that whoever causes a sinner to be converted from the error of his ways will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. |