Iacobi 1
1 Iacobus Dei, et Domini nostri Iesu Christi servus, duodecim tribubus, quae sunt in dispersione, salutem.
James, a slave of God and of Sovereign Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are in the Dispersion: Greetings.
2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
Count it all joy, my brothers, whenever you fall into various trials,
3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestrae patientiam operatur.
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance;
4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.
but let that endurance have a complete work, so that you may be perfect and complete, falling short in nothing.
5 Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat: et dabitur ei.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from the giving God, who gives to all liberally and does not reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 Postulet autem in fide nihil haesitans: qui enim haesitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur et circumfertur.
However, let him ask in faith, with no doubting, because he who doubts is like a sea wave driven and tossed by the wind—
7 non ergo aestimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
such a man should not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.
being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
Now the lowly brother should glory in his high position,
10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos foeni transibit:
but the rich brother in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of wild grass.
11 exortus est enim sol cum ardore, et arefecit foenum, et flos eius decidit, et decor vultus eius deperiit: ita et dives in itineribus suis marcescet.
For the sun rises with its burning heat and withers the grass, and its flower falls off and the beauty of its face perishes. Just so the rich man will be withered in his undertakings.
12 Beatus vir, qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
A man who endures testing is blessed, because upon becoming approved he will receive the crown of the life that the Lord has promised to those loving Him.
13 Nemo cum tentatur, dicat quoniam a Deo tentatur: Deus enim intentator malorum est: ipse autem neminem tentat.
Let no one, upon being tempted, say, “I am being tempted by God,” because God is untemptable by evil, so He Himself does not tempt anyone.
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
But each one is tempted by his own craving, being taken in tow and enticed.
15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
Then the craving, upon conceiving, gives birth to sin, and the sin, upon completion, delivers death.
16 Nolite itaque errare fratres mei dilectissimi.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers:
17 Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.
every good giving and every perfect gift is from Above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturae eius.
Having willed it, He brought us forth by a word of truth, so that we might be a sort of firstfruits of His products.
19 Scitis fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.
So then, my beloved brothers, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
20 Ira enim viri, iustitiam Dei non operatur.
because a man's anger does not achieve God's righteousness.
21 Propter quod abiicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiae, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and overflow of evil, receive with meekness the implanted Word which is able to save your souls.
22 Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.
Further, become word doers and not just hearers, deceiving yourselves.
23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor: hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suae in speculo:
Because if anyone is a law hearer and not a doer, the same is like a man observing his physical face in a mirror;
24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
for he observes himself, then goes away and promptly forgets what he is like.
25 Qui autem perspexerit in lege perfectae libertatis, et permanserit in ea, non auditor obliviosus factus, sed factor operis: hic beatus in facto suo erit.
But he who looks carefully into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, he—not being a forgetful hearer but a work doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, huius vana est religio.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his heart, his religion is useless.
27 Religio munda, et immaculata apud Deum et Patrem, haec est: Visitare pupillos, et viduas in tribulatione eorum, et immaculatum se custodire ab hoc saeculo.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their adversity; to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
