James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
Iacobus Dei, et Domini nostri Iesu Christi servus, duodecim tribubus, quæ sunt in dispersione, salutem.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
scientes quod probatio fidei vestræ patientiam operatur.
4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat: et dabitur ei.
6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Postulet autem in fide nihil hæsitans: qui enim hæsitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur et circumfertur.
7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Non ergo æstimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.
9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos fœni transibit:
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
exortus est enim sol cum ardore, et arefecit fœnum, et flos eius decidit, et decor vultus eius deperiit: ita et dives in itineribus suis marcescet.
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Beatus vir, qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitæ, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
Nemo cum tentatur, dicat quoniam a Deo tentatur: Deus enim intentator malorum est: ipse autem neminem tentat.
14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Nolite itaque errare fratres mei dilectissimi.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.
18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturæ eius.
19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
Scitis fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.
20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
Ira enim viri, iustitiam Dei non operatur.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
Propter quod abiicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiæ, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.
23 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,
Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor: hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suæ in speculo:
24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
Qui autem perspexerit in legem perfectam libertatis, et permanserit in ea, non auditor obliviosus factus, sed factor operis: hic beatus in facto suo erit.
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, huius vana est religio.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Religio munda, et immaculata apud Deum et Patrem, hæc est: Visitare pupillos, et viduas in tribulatione eorum, et immaculatum se custodire ab hoc sæculo.
