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James 1 1 James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings. 天主及主耶稣基督的仆人雅各伯，祝散居的十二支派安好。 2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, 2 我的弟兄们，几时你们落在各种试探里，要认为是大喜乐， 3 for you know that the testing 3 of your faith produces perseverance. 因为你们应知道：你们的信德受过考验，才能生出坚忍。 4 And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 但这坚忍又必须有完美的实行，好使你们既成全而又完备，毫无缺欠。 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, 4 he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. 你们中谁若缺乏智慧，就该向那慷慨施恩于众人，而从不责斥的天主祈求，天主必赐给他。 6 But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. 不过，祈求时要有信心，决不可怀疑，因为怀疑的人，就像海里的波涛，被风吹动，翻腾不已。 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, 这样的人，不要妄想从主那里得到什么。 8 since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. 三心两意的人，在他一切的行径上，易变无定。 9 The brother in lowly circumstances 5 should take pride in his high standing, 贫贱的弟兄，要因高升而夸耀； 10 and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away ＂like the flower of the field.＂ 富有的，却要因自卑而夸耀，因为它要过去，如同草上的花一样： 11 For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 太阳一出来，带着热风，将草晒枯，它的花便凋谢了，它的美丽也消失了；富有的人在自己的行为上，也要这样衰落。 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, 6 for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. 忍受试探的人是有福的，因为他既经得起考验，必能得到主向爱他的人，所预许的生命之冠。 13 7 No one experiencing temptation should say, ＂I am being tempted by God＂; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. 人受诱惑，不可说：＂我为天主所诱惑，＂因为天主不会为恶事所诱惑，他也不诱惑人。 14 Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 每个人受诱惑，都是为自己的私欲所勾引，所饵诱； 15 Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. 然后，私欲怀孕，便产生罪恶；罪恶完成之后，遂生出死亡来。 16 8 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers: 我亲爱的弟兄们，你们切不要错误！ 17 all good giving and every perfect gift 9 is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. 一切美好的赠与，一切完善的恩赐，都是从上，从光明之父降下来的，在他内没有变化或转动的阴影。 18 He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 10 他自愿用真理之言生了我们，为使我们成为他所造之物中的初果。 19 Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, 11 slow to speak, slow to wrath, 我亲爱的弟兄们，你们要知道：每人都该敏于听教，迟于发言，迟于动怒， 20 for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. 因为人的忿怒，并不成全天主的正义。 21 Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. 因此，你们要脱去一切不洁和种种恶习，而以柔顺之心，接受那种在你们心里，而能救你们灵魂的圣言。 22 Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. 不过，你们应按这圣言来实行，不要只听，自己欺骗自己； 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. 因为，谁若只听圣言而不去实行，他就像一个人，对着镜子照自己生来的面貌， 24 He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. 照完以后，就离去，遂即忘却了自己是什么样子。 25 But the one who peers into the perfect law 12 of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. 至于那细察赐予自由的完美法律，而又保持不变，不随听随忘，却实际力行的，这人因他的作为必是有福的。 26 13 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue 14 but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. 谁若自以为虔诚，却不箝制自己的唇舌，反而欺骗自己的心，这人的虔诚便是虚假的。 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows 15 in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 在天主父前，纯正无瑕的虔诚，就是看顾患难中的孤儿和寡妇，保持自己不受世俗的玷污。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [1] James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: a declaration of the writer's authority for instructing the Christian communities; cf Romans 1:1. Regarding the identity of the author, see Introduction. Dispersion: see Introduction. 2 [2] Consider it all joy . . . various trials: a frequent teaching of the New Testament derived from the words and sufferings of Jesus (Matthew 5:10-12; John 10:11; Acts 5:41). 3 [3-8] The sequence of testing, perseverance, and being perfect and complete indicates the manner of attaining spiritual maturity and full preparedness for the coming of Christ (James 5:7-12; cf 1 Peter 1:6-7; Romans 5:3-5). These steps require wisdom (James 1:5). 4 [5] Wisdom: a gift that God readily grants to all who ask in faith and that sustains the Christian in times of trial. It is a kind of knowledge or understanding not accessible to the unbeliever or those who doubt, which gives the recipient an understanding of the real importance of events. In this way a Christian can deal with adversity with great calm and hope (cf 1 Cor 2:6-12). 5 [9-11] Throughout his letter (see James 2:5; 4:10, 13-16; 5:1-6), the author reaffirms the teaching of Jesus that worldly prosperity is not necessarily a sign of God's favor but can even be a hindrance to proper humility before God (cf Luke 6:20-25; 12:16-21; 16:19-31). 6 [12] Temptation: the Greek word used here is the same one used for ＂trials＂ in James 1:2. The crown of life: in ancient 7 [13-15] It is contrary to what we know of God for God to be the author of human temptation (James 1:13). In the commission of a sinful act, one is first beguiled by passion (James 1:14), then consent is given, which in turn causes the sinful act. When sin permeates the entire person, it incurs the ultimate penalty of death (James 1:15). 8 [16-18] The author here stresses that God is the source of all good and of good alone, and the evil of temptation does not come from him. 9 [17] All good giving and every perfect gift may be a proverb written in hexameter. Father of lights: God is here called the Father of the heavenly luminaries, i.e., the stars, sun, and moon that he created (Genesis 1:14-18). Unlike orbs moving from nadir to zenith, he never changes or diminishes in brightness. 10 [18] Acceptance of the gospel message, the word of truth, constitutes new birth (John 3:5-6) and makes the recipient the firstfruits (i.e., the cultic offering of the earliest grains, symbolizing the beginning of an abundant harvest) of a new creation; cf 1 Cor 15:20; Romans 8:23. 11 [19-25] To be quick to hear the gospel is to accept it readily and to act in conformity with it, removing from one's soul whatever is opposed to it, so that it may take root and effect salvation (James 1:19-21). To listen to the gospel message but not practice it is failure to improve oneself (James 1:22-24). Only conformity of life to the perfect law of true freedom brings happiness (James 1:25). 12 [25] Peers into the perfect law: the image of a person doing this is paralleled to that of hearing God's word. The perfect law applies the Old Testament description of the Mosaic law to the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings freedom. 13 [26-27] A practical application of James 1:22 is now made. 14 [26] For control of the tongue, see the note on James 3:1-12. 15 [27] In the Old Testament, orphans and widows are classical examples of the defenseless and oppressed. |
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