Iacobi 1
1 Iacobus Dei, et Domini nostri Iesu Christi servus, duodecim tribubus, quae sunt in dispersione, salutem.
JAMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are dispersed, greeting.
2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials;
3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestrae patientiam operatur.
knowing that the proof of your faith produceth patience.
4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.
But let patience have its work perfected, that ye may be perfect and complete, deficient 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 man of you be deficient in wisdom, let him ask it of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not and it shall be given him.
6 Postulet autem in fide nihil haesitans: qui enim haesitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur et circumfertur.
But let him ask in faith, harbouring no doubt: for he who is doubtful is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind, and in constant agitation.
7 non ergo aestimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord.
8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.
A double-minded man is unsteady in all his ways.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
Let the brother low in station rejoice in his elevation:
10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos foeni transibit:
but the rich, in his abasement: for as the flower of grass he shall pass away.
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 arose with fervour, and burnt up the grass, and the flower of it fell off, and the beauty of its appearance was lost: just so the rich man in his course of life shall wither away.
12 Beatus vir, qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
Blessed is the man who patiently supports temptation: for when he is proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath 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 man under temptation say, I am tempted of God: for God is incapable of temptation from evils, and he tempteth no man:
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
but every person is tempted, when by his own peculiar passion he is born away, and ensnared.
15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
Then passion impregnated, bringeth forth sin, and sin reaching its consummation, bringeth forth death.
16 Nolite itaque errare fratres mei dilectissimi.
Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.
Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, descending from the father of illuminations, with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of change.
18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturae eius.
Of his own choice he produced us by the word of truth, that we might be a sort of first fruit of his creatures.―
19 Scitis fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
20 Ira enim viri, iustitiam Dei non operatur.
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Propter quod abiicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiae, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
Wherefore laying aside all vicious pollution, and the abundance of iniquity, receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which hath power to save your souls.
22 Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves by false reasoning.
23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor: hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suae in speculo:
For if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man that looks at his natural face in a glass;
24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
for he beheld himself, and went away, and immediately forgot what sort of person he was.
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 that looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres, this man not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, he shall be blessed in his practice.
26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, huius vana est religio.
If any man thinks he is a religious character among you, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
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 religion and undefiled with God even the Father is this, To pay diligent attention to the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to preserve himself spotless from the world.
