Iacobi 1
1 Iacobus Dei, et Domini nostri Iesu Christi servus, duodecim tribubus, quæ sunt in dispersione, salutem.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the twelve tribes that are living abroad.
2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
My friends, whatever trials you may face from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing,
3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestræ patientiam operatur.
knowing, as you do, that the testing of your faith develops endurance.
4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.
And let endurance do its work perfectly, so that you may be altogether perfect, and in no respect lacking.
5 Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat: et dabitur ei.
If any one of you lacks wisdom, they should ask wisdom from the God who gives freely to everyone without reproach, and it will be given to them.
6 Postulet autem in fide nihil hæsitans: qui enim hæsitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur et circumfertur.
But they should ask with confidence, never doubting; for the person who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven here and there at the mercy of the wind –
7 Non ergo æstimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
Such a person must not expect that they will receive anything from the Lord,
8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.
vacillating as they are, irresolute at every turn.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
Let a follower in humble circumstances be proud of their exalted position,
10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos fœni transibit:
but a rich follower of their humiliation; for the rich will pass away like a wild flower.
11 exortus est enim sol cum ardore, et arefecit fœnum, et flos eius decidit, et decor vultus eius deperiit: ita et dives in itineribus suis marcescet.
As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, the plant withers, its flower fades, and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich. In the midst of their pursuits they will wither away.
12 Beatus vir, qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitæ, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
Blessed is the person who remains firm under temptation, for, when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 Nemo cum tentatur, dicat quoniam a Deo tentatur: Deus enim intentator malorum est: ipse autem neminem tentat.
Let no one say, when they are tempted, ‘It is God who is tempting me!’ For God, who cannot be tempted to do wrong, does not himself tempt anyone.
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
A man is in every case tempted by their own passions – allured and enticed by them.
15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
Then passion conceives and gives birth to sin, and sin, on reaching maturity, brings forth death.
16 Nolite itaque errare fratres mei dilectissimi.
Do not be deceived, my dear friends.
17 Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.
Every good thing given us, and every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down to us from the Father of the lights in the heavens, who is himself never subject to change or to eclipse.
18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturæ eius.
Because he so willed, he gave us life, through the message of the truth, so that we should be, as it were, a kind of first fruits of his creation.
19 Scitis fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.
Mark this, my dear friends – Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry;
20 Ira enim viri, iustitiam Dei non operatur.
for human anger does not forward the righteous purpose of God.
21 Propter quod abiicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiæ, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
Therefore, get rid of all filthiness and whatever wickedness still remains, and in a humble spirit receive that message which has been planted in your hearts and is able to save your souls.
22 Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.
Put that message into practice, and do not merely listen to it – deceiving yourselves.
23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor: hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suæ in speculo:
For, when anyone listens to it and does not practice it, they are like a person looking at their own face in a mirror.
24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
They look at themselves, then go on their way,
25 Qui autem perspexerit in legem perfectam libertatis, et permanserit in ea, non auditor obliviosus factus, sed factor operis: hic beatus in facto suo erit.
but the person who looks carefully into the perfect Law, the Law of freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into practice – that person will be blessed in what they do.
26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, huius vana est religio.
When a person appears to be religious, yet does not bridle their tongue, but imposes on their own conscience, that person’s religious observances are valueless.
27 Religio munda, et immaculata apud Deum et Patrem, hæc est: Visitare pupillos, et viduas in tribulatione eorum, et immaculatum se custodire ab hoc sæculo.
That religious observance which is pure and spotless in the eyes of God our Father is this – to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world.
