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 in dispersion sendeth greeting.
2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
Account it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various trials:
3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestrae patientiam operatur.
knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh patience;
4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.
but let patience have it's perfect work, that ye may be entirely perfect, failing in nothing.
5 Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat: et dabitur ei.
And if any of you lack 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, nothing doubting; for he that doubteth is like a wave of the sea blown about and tossed by the wind.
7 non ergo aestimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
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 inconstant in all his ways.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
Let the brother that is low rejoice in his exaltation: but the rich in his humiliation,
10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos foeni transibit:
because as the flower of the 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 when the sun is risen with it's sultry heat, it drieth up the grass, and the flower of, it falleth, and the beauty of it's appearance is lost: so shall the rich man fade away in his projects.
12 Beatus vir, qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
Happy is the man who sustaineth temptation; for being approved he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.
13 Nemo cum tentatur, dicat quoniam a Deo tentatur: Deus enim intentator malorum est: ipse autem neminem tentat.
Let no one that is tempted say, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted by evils, and He tempteth no one.
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
But every man is tempted, when drawn aside and insnared by his own vehement desire.
15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
Then desire having conceived bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.
16 Nolite itaque errare fratres mei dilectissimi.
Be not therefore deceived, my beloved brethren: for every good gift,
17 Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.
and every perfect gift, but no evil one, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, nor shadow of turning:
18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturae eius.
who hath of his own will begotten us by the word of truth, that we might 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.
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 doth not practise the righteousness of God.
21 Propter quod abiicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiae, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
Laying aside therefore all filthiness, and excess of malice, receive with meekness 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 hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor: hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suae in speculo:
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror,
24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
who beheld himself, and went away, and immediately forgot what manner of man 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 well into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, huius vana est religio.
If any among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his heart, this man's devotion 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 and uncorrupt religion before God and our Father is this, to take care of orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
