< James 2 >

1 My brethren, you must not make distinctions between one man and another while you are striving to maintain faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our glory.
Fratres mei, nolite in personarum acceptione habere fidem Domini nostri Jesu Christi gloriæ.
2 For suppose a man comes into one of your meetings wearing gold rings and fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man wearing shabby clothes,
Etenim si introierit in conventum vestrum vir aureum annulum habens in veste candida, introierit autem et pauper in sordido habitu,
3 and you pay court to the one who wears the fine clothes, and say, "Sit here; this is a good place;" while to the poor man you say, "Stand there, or sit on the floor at my feet;"
et intendatis in eum qui indutus est veste præclara, et dixeritis ei: Tu sede hic bene: pauperi autem dicatis: Tu sta illic; aut sede sub scabello pedum meorum:
4 is it not plain that in your hearts you have little faith, seeing that you have become judges full of wrong thoughts?
nonne judicatis apud vosmetipsos, et facti estis judices cogitationum iniquarum?
5 Listen, my dearly-loved brethren. Has not God chosen those whom the world regards as poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He has promised to those that love Him?
Audite, fratres mei dilectissimi: nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo, divites in fide, et hæredes regni, quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se?
6 But you have put dishonour upon the poor man. Yet is it not the rich who grind you down? Are not they the very people who drag you into the Law courts? --
vos autem exhonorastis pauperem. Nonne divites per potentiam opprimunt vos, et ipsi trahunt vos ad judicia?
7 and the very people who speak evil of the noble Name by which you are called?
nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen, quod invocatum est super vos?
8 If, however, you are keeping the Law as supreme, in obedience to the Commandment which says "You are to love your fellow man just as you love yourself," you are acting rightly.
Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturas: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum: bene facitis:
9 But if you are making distinctions between one man and another, you are guilty of sin, and are convicted by the Law as offenders.
si autem personas accipitis, peccatum operamini, redarguti a lege quasi transgressores.
10 A man who has kept the Law as a whole, but has failed to keep some one command, has become guilty of violating all.
Quicumque autem totam legem servaverit, offendat autem in uno, factus est omnium reus.
11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder," and if you are a murderer, although not an adulterer, you have become an offender against the Law.
Qui enim dixit: Non mœchaberis, dixit et: Non occides. Quod si non mœchaberis, occides autem, factus es transgressor legis.
12 Speak and act as those should who are expecting to be judged by the Law of freedom.
Sic loquimini, et sic facite sicut per legem libertatis incipientes judicari.
13 For he who shows no mercy will have judgement given against him without mercy; but mercy triumphs over judgement.
Judicium enim sine misericordia illi qui non fecit misericordiam: superexaltat autem misericordia judicium.
14 What good is it, my brethren, if a man professes to have faith, and yet his actions do not correspond? Can such faith save him?
Quid proderit, fratres mei, si fidem quis dicat se habere, opera autem non habeat? numquid poterit fides salvare eum?
15 Suppose a Christian brother or sister is poorly clad or lacks daily food,
Si autem frater et soror nudi sint, et indigeant victu quotidiano,
16 and one of you says to them, "I wish you well; keep yourselves warm and well fed," and yet you do not give them what they need; what is the use of that?
dicat autem aliquis ex vobis illis: Ite in pace, calefacimini et saturamini: non dederitis autem eis quæ necessaria sunt corpori, quid proderit?
17 So also faith, if it is unaccompanied by obedience, has no life in it--so long as it stands alone.
Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in semetipsa.
18 Nay, some one will say, "You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from corresponding actions and I will prove mine to you by my actions.
Sed dicet quis: Tu fidem habes, et ego opera habeo: ostende mihi fidem tuam sine operibus: et ego ostendam tibi ex operibus fidem meam.
19 You believe that God is one, and you are quite right: evil spirits also believe this, and shudder."
Tu credis quoniam unus est Deus: bene facis: et dæmones credunt, et contremiscunt.
20 But, idle boaster, are you willing to be taught how it is that faith apart from obedience is worthless? Take the case of Abraham our forefather.
Vis autem scire, o homo inanis, quoniam fides sine operibus mortua est?
21 Was it, or was it not, because of his actions that he was declared to be righteous as the result of his having offered up his son Isaac upon the altar?
Abraham pater noster nonne ex operibus justificatus est, offerens Isaac filium suum super altare?
22 You notice that his faith was co-operating with his actions, and that by his actions his faith was perfected;
Vides quoniam fides cooperabatur operibus illius: et ex operibus fides consummata est?
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and his faith was placed to his credit as righteousness," and he received the name of 'God's friend.'
Et suppleta est Scriptura, dicens: Credidit Abraham Deo, et reputatum est illi ad justitiam, et amicus Dei appellatus est.
24 You all see that it is because of actions that a man is pronounced righteous, and not simply because of faith.
Videtis quoniam ex operibus justificatur homo, et non ex fide tantum?
25 In the same way also was not the notorious sinner Rahab declared to be righteous because of her actions when she welcomed the spies and hurriedly helped them to escape another way?
Similiter et Rahab meretrix, nonne ex operibus justificata est, suscipiens nuntios, et alia via ejiciens?
26 For just as a human body without a spirit is lifeless, so also faith is lifeless if it is unaccompanied by obedience.
Sicut enim corpus sine spiritu mortuum est, ita et fides sine operibus mortua est.

< James 2 >