< Iacobi 1 >
1 Jacobus, Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi servus, duodecim tribubus, quæ sunt in dispersione, salutem.
JAKUB, a servant of Aloha and of our Lord Jeshu Meshiha, unto the twelve tribes who are dispersed among the nations: Peace.
2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
All joy shall be to you, my brethren, when you shall have entered into temptations many and various.
3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestræ patientiam operatur.
For you know that the proving of faith maketh you to possess patience;
4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.
but to patience let there be a perfect work, that you may be complete and perfected, and in nothing be deficient.
5 Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat: et dabitur ei.
If any of you be deficient in wisdom, let him ask of Aloha, who giveth to all expansively, and upbraideth not, and it is 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 in faith, not wavering. For he who wavereth is like the waves of the sea which the wind disturbeth.
7 non ergo æstimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
And let not that man expect to receive any thing from the Lord,
8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.
who is divided in his mind, and disturbed in all his ways.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
But let the humble brother glory in his exaltation,
10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos fœni transibit;
and the rich in his humility; for as the flower of an herb, so he passeth.
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.
For the sun ariseth in his heat, and drieth the herb, and the flower of it falleth, and the beauty of its appearance perisheth; so also the rich withereth in his reverses.
12 Beatus vir qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitæ, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
Blessed the man who endureth temptations: for when he hath been proved he shall receive the crown of life, which Aloha hath promised unto them who love him.
13 Nemo cum tentatur, dicat quoniam a Deo tentatur: Deus enim intentator malorum est: ipse autem neminem tentat.
Let no man say, when he is tempted, From Aloha I am tempted; for Aloha is not tempted with evils, and he no man tempteth.
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
But each man from his concupiscence tempteth himself, and desireth, and is drawn away.
15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
And this desire conceiveth and beareth sin; and sin, when it is perfected, beareth death.
16 Nolite itaque errare, fratres mei dilectissimi.
Do not err, my beloved brethren;
17 Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.
every good gift and perfect from above descendeth, from the Father of lights, with whom is no alteration, nor the shadow of vicissitude.
18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturæ ejus.
He willed, and begat us by the word of truth, that we might be the first-ones of his creatures.
19 Scitis, fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.
And you, my beloved brethren, let every one of you be swift to hear, and slow to speak, and slow to be angry;
20 Ira enim viri justitiam Dei non operatur.
for the wrath of man the righteousness of Aloha worketh not.
21 Propter quod abjicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiæ, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
Wherefore, remove from you all impurity and the abounding of wickedness, and with meekness receive the word which is engrafted in our nature, 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, neither deceive yourselves.
23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor, hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suæ in speculo:
For if a man be a hearer of the word and not a doer of it, this (man) is like one who vieweth his face in a mirror;
24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
for he seeth himself and passeth, and hath forgotten what (manner of person) he was.
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 every one who looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he is not a hearer of the hearing of forgetfulness, but a doer of works; and this shall be blessed in his work.
26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, hujus vana est religio.
And if a man thinketh that he serveth Aloha, and holdeth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, of this man his service is vain.
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.
For the service which is pure and true before Aloha the Father, is this, to visit the orphans and widows in their afflictions, and that a man keep himself from the world without blemish.