The Book Of James (Ya'akov)

A Strict Translation Without Interpretation

A necessary note:
I made this translation due to my sincere wish to do so when I was a child. Since very young I had always wanted to be able to read the Hebrew Scripture in the original languages. On the other hand, I also wanted to find out how right or wrong our translations were. Well, for a long time I have known that it was not only innocent mistakes what had been committed by the translators (and copysts) since early times. For many years I, like many others (who might not always be as well-intended in their approach to such a criticism) have observed purposeful and completely inexcusable errors of Scripture translation. Undoubtedly, such concious errors were made due to many dark agendas playing an evil role for the sake of control, and even destruction, through deception. I need to say that I see such errors in all professional translations availablemdash;the very ones that are so widely spread among Jews and Christians, thus creating all kinds of confusions and struggles.
I would like to remark that I do not claim that this is a perfect translation. Certainly, no translation can be so. But I performed this translation like if I had translated any other literary work, i.e. letting it say what it says, the way it says it. As much as it is humanly possible, I have tried to convey what the original text truly says, the way it says it. I have not embellished the style at all, which is why at times it comes out corse and choppy. This is so because I have tried to allow the phrases to be as close to the original as possible — even if at times it is not elegant, or even entirely correct in English. Bcause of this, the reader shall have to make his own mind about what the writter means, or at times what he is even talking about. When out of pure liguistic necessity (in order to make a minimum sense) I had to add some words in English; it is then when I have itilized them; thus if you ignore them, you will see what the original flatly says.
I would like to inform you that this work is attempt to changes if they are proven to be necessary; in such a case I would put the date of such an update by the title of this page.
Lastly, whoever and whatever I am today is in great part due to the fact that I enjoyed the awesome fortune of having a righteous, Scripture-loving mother, who inculcated in me a deep love for the Elohim of Israel, His Nation and His Book since before I even knew how to walk and talk. For 15 years now she has been dwelling in the City of Glory with YHWH Elohim, but the effects of her constant spiritual teaching upon me and my children is increasingly vibrant in me and in them. Her deeply-rooted love for the Almighty is surely rolling down the generations of her lucky descendants. Therefore, I wish to dedicate to her memory this effort, an effort that if she had seen it, it would had made her very happy — although not so much as she is now.

Ya'akov Ben Avraham
Webmaster

Chapter 1

¹ Ya'akov, a slave of the Elohim and Master Messiah Yeshua, to the 12 tribes in the Diaspora: Shalom!

² Consider everything to be a delight, my brothers, whenever you would be stricken by all kinds of temptations — ³ because having come to understand it, the act of testing your Faith produces endurance. ⁴ But, let the endurance have a fully developed action in order that it would be mature and complete — in nothing fallen short.

⁵ Now, if someone of you lacks understanding, let him request everything from the giving Elohim — sincerely, without reproaching — and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in Faith — doubting nothing — because the doubting person is like a wave of the sea, driven and blown here and there. ⁷ Indeed, do not let that person expect that — that he shall receive anything from the Master. ⁸ An uncertain person is unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Now, let that brother be confident in his lowly height. ¹⁰ And let the rich one in his humiliation, because as the flower of grass he shall pass by. ¹¹ Certainly, He caused the sun to rise up with the burning heat; and not only He — Himself! — dried up the grass, and its flower fell away; and the loveliness of its presence perished. And in this way the rich fades away in his pursuit.

¹² Blessed is the person who endures temptation, because — having become approved — he will receive the Crown of Life, which was promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one being tempted say that he is being tempted by Elohim, because Elohim is incapable to tempt him with evil. To the contrary, He — Himself — tempts no one; ¹⁴ rather, each one is tempted by one's own desire — being dragged away, and being lured. ¹⁵ Then, the desire, having conceived, gives birth to sin. And sin, having being performed, gives birth to Death.

¹⁶ Do not be led astray, my dear brothers; ¹⁷ every Good Gift and every Perfect Present is from Above, coming down from the Father of the Light, before Whom there is no variation, change or Darkness. ¹⁸ Having planned it, He gave birth to us the Word of Truth to be among us — a certain First Fruit of His creatures.

¹⁹ Remember this, my dear brothers, and in everything be a person quick to listen, slow to speak, slow into wrath — ²⁰ because the wrath of a person does not perform the Righteousness of Elohim. ²¹ Therefore, throw off all uncleanness, excessiveness and wikedness. In humility receive the planted Word that has the Capacity to rescue your souls; ²² and become performers of the Word, and not only hearers — deceiving yourselves — ²³ because if someone is a hearer of the Word, but not a performer, this one is like a person who observes his birth face in a mirror. ²⁴ He indeed observed himself, but going away, he immediately forgot what kind of being he is! ²⁵ But the one who stopped to look carefully into the Perfect Torah of Freedom, and stood by it, not becoming a forgetful hearer but a performer of actions, this one is blessed in his performance.

²⁶ If someone imagines [himself] to be religious, while not holding in check his tongue, he is instead deceiving his own heart. This [is] a worthless religion. ²⁷ The clean and spotless religion in the Presence of the Elohim and Father is this: to take care of the orphans and of the widows in their troubles, and to keep yourself unstained from the world.

Chapter 2

¹ My brothers, do not hold prejudice within the Faith of our Master Yeshua, the Messiah of Glory. ² Because if a man enters in your synagogue wearing a gold ring, with a splendid clothing; and also a poor man in filthy clothing; ³ and you look with favor upon the one wearing the bright cloths and you say: "Sit here in honor," and to the poor man you say: "Stand there" or "Sit under my footstool," ⁴ have you not passed judgment inside yourselves and become judges of evil opinions?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers, has Elohim not chosen the poor of the world to be rich in Faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He promised to those loving Him? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich ones who oppress you and who drag you into the law courts? ⁷ Are they not who blaspheme the Good Name that is invoked upon you? ⁸ However, if you keep the Royal Torah according to Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. ⁹ But if you show partiality, you perform sin. You are condemned by Torah as a transgressor.

¹⁰ Certainly, whoever keeps the entire Torah, but stumbles in one Command, he becomes guilty of every one of them. ¹¹ Indeed, the one who said, "Do not commit adultery" also said, "Do not murder." Now, if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you become a transgressor of Torah. ¹² So, speak and act as if you were being about to be judged by the Torah of Freedom —

¹³ Truly, there is a merciless Judgment to him that has not provided mercy; but mercy triumphs over judgment.

¹⁴ What is the benefit, my brothers, if someone would say to have faith, but he would have no actions? Has the faith power to save him? ¹⁵ If a brother, or a sister, is naked and lacks the daily food, ¹⁶ and someone says to them, "Go away in peace; be warm, and be fed!" and would not give to them the necessities of their bodies, what is the benefit of it? ¹⁷ In the same way also, if the faith has no actions is dead in itself.

¹⁸ Now, someone will say that "You have faith, but I have actions. Prove to me your faith without actions; and I will prove to you — out of my actions! — my Faith"

¹⁹ You believe that Elohim is one. You do well! But the demons believe and shiver from fear. ²⁰ Now, do you wish to know, oh empty man, that faith apart from actions is worthless? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham proven righteous out of actions when he offered up his son Yitzhak upon the altar? ²² You see that Faith was working together with his actions, and out of the actions Faith was made complete. ²³ And it was fulfilled the Scripture that is saying. "And Abraham had Faith in Elohim, and it was considered for him as righteousness. He even was called "a friend of Elohim!" ²⁴ You see that out of actions a man is proven righteous, and not out of faith alone.

²⁵ And also in the same way, Rahab — a prostitute — was she not proven righteous by receiving the sent ones and leading them out by another route? ²⁶ Certainly, just as the body without spirit is dead, in the same manner faith apart from actions is dead.

Chapter 3

¹ My brothers, do no become a large number of teachers — recognizing that we will get a greater Judgment — ² because many teachers confuse everything.

If someone does not confuse with a word, he is a mature person capable to hold in check the entire body. ³ Now, if we put a bit in the mouth of the horses, in order to be persuaded by us, then we can guide all their bodies. ⁴ And look at the boats, being so large and they are driven by strong winds, guided by a smaller rudder where the will of the pilot determines.

⁵ So, in the same manner, the tongue is a small member, but it boasts loud. Look how great a fire it kindles to a great forest! ⁶ That is, the tongue is a fire — the world of unrighteousness! The tongue is put in charge in our members to defile the whole body; thus setting on fire the origin and the course of life — set on fire by Gei-Hinnom.

⁷ Indeed all things in nature — wild beasts, and not only birds and reptiles, but also marine animals — are tamed and subdued by the nature of man. ⁸ But no one is powerful to tame the tongue — death-bringing to man, unstable, evil, full of poison. ⁹ With it we bless the Master and Father; and with it we course men come into existence after the image of Elohim. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth comes out a praise and a curse! My brothers, this should not be this way. ¹¹ Does from the same spring hole gushes out sweet and bitter? ¹² My brothers, can a fig tree produce an olive? Or a vine a fig? Neither a salty spring to produce sweet water.
¹³ Whoever is wise and well-instructed among you, let him prove it by means of the proper behavior of his actions with gentle wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you hold bitter jealousy and selfishness in your heart, do not boast and lie against the Truth. ¹⁵ This is not the Wisdom from Above coming down — but earthly, natural, demonic — ¹⁶ because wherever there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disturbance and all kinds of evil actions. ¹⁷ On the contrary, the Wisdom from Above is first of all, truly pure; then peaceful, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, sincere. ¹⁸ And a fruit of righteousness is seeded in peace, so that peace be made.

Chapter 4

¹ From where come the struggles, and from where come the conflicts among you? Not from there! They come out of your passions that wage war in your members! ² You desire and you do not have. You murder, and are jealous; but you are not able to be successful. You quarrel and wage war, but you do not have because of not asking. ³ You ask, but you do not receive because you ask with a wrong motive — in order to spend freely in your [own] pleasure. ⁴ Adulteress! Do you not realize that the love of the world is hostility against Elohim? Therefore, whoever would want to be friendly with the world, he is appointed hostile towards Elohim. ⁵ Or do you imagine that the Scripture says for no reason that "Envy longs for the Spirit, which He causes to dwell in us." ⁶ But He gives Great Grace. For this reason it says, "Elohim opposes the bragger, but to the humble He gives Grace."

⁷ Accordingly, be submitted to Elohim, resist the devil and he will flee away from you. ⁸ Come close to Elohim and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, sinner, and cleanse from defilement a double-minded heart.

⁹ Endure sorrow — not only grieve over it, but cry for it! Turn around your laughter into mourning, and your delight into depression! ¹⁰ Humble yourself before the Master, and He will lift you up.

¹¹ Do not slander one another, brothers. He that is speaking evil of a brother, or that is judging his brother, is slandering Torah, and is judging Torah! And if you judge Torah, you are not a performer of Torah, but a judge. ¹² One is the Torah-Giver and Judge — the One Capable to deliver and to destroy. But you, who are you judging the neighbor?

¹³ Listen now, those who now are saying, "Today, or tomorrow, we will go into this city and we will live there a year; and we will engage in business; we will make a profit." ¹⁴ Whoever [you are]: you do not understand! What sort of tomorrow? Because your life is a mist that is appearing for a little time, and then disappears.¹⁵ Instead of saying, "If the Master wishes, and then I live, I will also do this or that." ¹⁶ But now you brag in your arrogance. All bragging, such as this, is evil.

¹⁷ So, knowing to do good and not doing it is sin in itself.

Chapter 5

¹ Now, the rich, listen: weep! Cry loud over your misery, which is coming. ² Your wealth decayed; and your garments became moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver have become rusty; and their rust will be an evidence against you. And it will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up in the last days! ⁴ Look, the wages of the laborers that have harvested your lands — and that are defrauded by you — cry out. And their outcry have reaped. They have entered into the ears of the Master Tzva'ot. ⁵ You have lived in luxury over the earth; and you have live indulgently. You have pampered your heart in the day of the slaughter. ⁶ You have passed sentence; you have murdered the righteous. He does not resist you.

⁷ Therefore, be patient, brother, until the Arrival of the Master. Look, a farmer awaits the valuable fruit of the earth, being patient for it, until he would receive early rain and late rain. ⁸ Be patient you too. Strengthen you heart, because the Arrival of the Master is near. ⁹ Do not complain strongly, brothers, against one another, so that you do not judge. Look, a Judge stands in front of the door!

¹⁰ Take an example. brothers, ^of the suffering and the patience ^of the prophets who spoke in the Name of the Master. ¹¹ Look, we consider fortunate those that have endured — of the resiliency of Iyob you have heard. Also in the end the Master you have seen. Because very Compassionate is the Master, and Merciful.

¹² Now, before anything, my brothers, do not make an oath — neither for the Heavens or the earth, nor some other oath. But let your yes be a yes, and the no a no, so that you would fall under no Judgment.

¹³ Does someone among you endure hardship? Let him pray; let him take courage; let him be happy. ¹⁴ Does someone among you is weak? Let him summon the elders of the congregation; and let them pray over him — having anointed him with olive oil in the Name of the Master. ¹⁵ And the prayer — the faith — will make well the weary, and the Master will raise him up. And the sins that he would have done will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Accordingly, confess one another the sins, and pray for one another so that you recover. A prayer of the righteous person is much able to be effective. ¹⁷ Eliyahu had been a man of the same experiences as ours, but he prayed a prayer for not to rain. And it did not rain over the earth 3 years and 6 months. ¹⁸ And again he prayed, and The Heavens gave rain; and the earth produced its fruit.

¹⁹ My brothers, if someone among you would have been lead astray from the Truth, and anyone would return him, ²⁰ know that the sinner returned from his road of deception will be preserved from harm — his soul out from death — and he will cover a multitude of sins.