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 in the Diaspora: Greetings.
2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter 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.
Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking 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 of God, who gives to all generously and without finding fault; 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 any doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 non ergo aestimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
For let that person not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.
He is a double-minded person, unstable in all his ways.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;
10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos foeni transibit:
and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he 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 the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich person fade away in his pursuits.
12 Beatus vir, qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which he 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 he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth 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.
All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturae eius.
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
19 Scitis fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.
This you know, my beloved brothers. But let every person be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
20 Ira enim viri, iustitiam Dei non operatur.
for human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Propter quod abiicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiae, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.
But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor: hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suae in speculo:
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his natural face in a mirror;
24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind 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 who looks into the perfect Law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this person 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 thinks himself to be religious while he does not control his tongue, but deceives his heart, this one's religion is worthless.
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 before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
