Iacobi 1
1 Jacobus, Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi servus, duodecim tribubus, quæ sunt in dispersione, salutem.
James, a Servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the Twelve Tribes that are living abroad.
2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
My Brothers, whatever may be the temptations that beset you from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing,
3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestræ patientiam operatur.
knowing, as you do, that the testing of your faith develops endurance.
4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.
And let endurance do its work perfectly, so that you may be altogether perfect, and in no respect deficient.
5 Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat: et dabitur ei.
If one of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask wisdom from the God who gives freely to every one without reproaches, and it will be given to him.
6 Postulet autem in fide nihil hæsitans: qui enim hæsitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur et circumfertur:
But let him ask with confidence, never doubting; for the man who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven hither and thither at the mercy of the wind —
7 non ergo æstimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
Such a man must not expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.
vacillating as he is, irresolute at every turn.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
Let a Brother in humble circumstances be proud of his exalted position, but a rich Brother of his humiliation;
10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos fœni transibit;
for the rich man will pass away ‘like the flower of the grass.’
11 exortus est enim sol cum ardore, et arefecit fœnum, et flos ejus decidit, et decor vultus ejus deperiit: ita et dives in itineribus suis marcescet.
As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, ‘the grass withers, its flower fades,’ and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich man. In the midst of his pursuits he will come to an untimely end.
12 Beatus vir qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitæ, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
Blessed is the man who remains firm under 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.
Let no one say, when he is tempted, “It is God who is tempting me!” For God, who cannot be tempted to do wrong, does not himself tempt any one.
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
A man is in every case tempted by his own passions — allured and enticed by them.
15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
Then Passion conceives and gives birth to Sin, and Sin, on reaching maturity, brings forth Death.
16 Nolite itaque errare, fratres mei dilectissimi.
Do not be deceived, my dear 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 thing given us, and every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down to us from the Maker of the Lights in the heavens, who is himself never subject to change or to eclipse.
18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturæ ejus.
Because he so willed, he gave us Life, through the Message of the Truth, so that we should be, as it were, an earnest of still further creations.
19 Scitis, fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.
Mark this, my dear Brothers — Let every one be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry;
20 Ira enim viri justitiam Dei non operatur.
for the anger of man does not forward the righteous purpose of God.
21 Propter quod abjicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiæ, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
Therefore, have done with all filthiness and whatever wickedness still remains, and in a humble spirit receive that Message which has been planted in your hearts and is able to save your souls.
22 Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.
Put that Message into practice, and do not merely listen to it — deceiving yourselves.
23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor, hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suæ in speculo:
For, when any one listens to it and does not practice it, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror.
24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
He looks at himself, then goes on his way,
25 Qui autem perspexerit in legem perfectam libertatis, et permanserit in ea, non auditor obliviosus factus, sed factor operis: hic beatus in facto suo erit.
but he who looks carefully into the perfect Law, the Law of Freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into practice — that man will be blessed in what he does.
26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, hujus vana est religio.
When a man appears to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue, but imposes upon his own conscience, that man’s religious observances are valueless.
27 Religio munda et immaculata apud Deum et Patrem, hæc est: visitare pupillos et viduas in tribulatione eorum, et immaculatum se custodire ab hoc sæculo.
That religious observance which is pure and spotless in the eyes of God our Father is this — to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world.
