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 the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greeting to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad.
2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
My brothers, when you are beset by various temptations, count it all joy,
3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestrae patientiam operatur.
because you know that the testing of your faith is working out endurance.
4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.
But let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, not lacking in anything.
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 is lacking in wisdom, let him ask it from the God who gives to all men freely and without upbraiding; 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.
But let him ask in faith, without wavering; for he who wavers is like a surge of the sea, wind-driven and tossed.
7 non ergo aestimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
Such a man need not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.
double-minded as he is, unstable at every turn.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
Let a brother in humble circumstances glory in his exaltation;
10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos foeni transibit:
but a rich brother, in his humiliation; because like the flower of the grass the rich man will 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 as the sun comes up with a burning heat, it withers the grass, and its flowers fall, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes; so also shall the rich man fade away amid his pursuits.
12 Beatus vir, qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has stood the test he 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.
When he is being tempted, let no one say, "It is God who tempts me," for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man.
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
But each man is tempted by his own lusts that allure and entice him.
15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
Then lust conceives and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is mature, brings forth death.
16 Nolite itaque errare fratres mei dilectissimi.
Do not be deceived, my 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 gift and every perfect boon is from above, and is ever coming down to us from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of eclipse.
18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturae eius.
Because he willed, he gave us birth through the word of truth, so that we should be a kind of first-fruits among his creatures.
19 Scitis fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.
Mark this well, my dear brothers. Let every man be swift in hearing, slow in speaking, slow in growing angry;
20 Ira enim viri, iustitiam Dei non operatur.
for a man’s anger does not further the righteous purpose of God.
21 Propter quod abiicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiae, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
So strip off all filthiness and superfluity of wickedness, and in meekness receive the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
22 Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.
And become doers of the Word, and not merely hearers, deceiving yourselves.
23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor: hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suae in speculo:
Because if any one is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
for after he has looked carefully at himself, he goes away, and at once 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 the man who looks closely into the perfect law - the law of liberty - and continues looking, this man will be blessed in his deed because he is not a hearer who forgets, but a doer who does.
26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, huius vana est religio.
If a man thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own religion,
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.
and undefiled before our God and Father, to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, and ever to keep himself unspotted from the world.
