Iacobi 2
1 Fratres mei, nolite in personarum acceptione habere fidem Domini nostri Iesu Christi gloriæ.
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, so as to show a partiality for persons.
2 Etenim si introierit in conventum vestrum vir aureum annulum habens in veste candida, introierit autem et pauper in sordido habitu,
For if there comes into your assembly a man in splendid apparel, and with gold rings on his fingers, and there comes in also a poor man, in mean clothing,
3 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:
and you show regard to him that wears the splendid apparel, and say to him, Sit here, in an honorable place; and you say to the poor man, Do you stand there, or sit here, under my footstool;
4 nonne iudicatis apud vosmetipsos, et facti estis iudices cogitationum iniquarum?
are you not partial in yourselves? and do you not judge from false principles?
5 Audite fratres mei dilectissimi, nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo, divites in fide, et heredes regni, quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se?
Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him?
6 Vos autem exhonorastis pauperem. Nonne divites per potentiam opprimunt vos, et ipsi trahunt vos ad iudicia?
But you dishonor the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not themselves drag you to the judgment-seats?
7 Nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen, quod invocatum est super vos?
Do they not themselves revile that honorable name which is called upon you?
8 Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturas: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum: bene facitis:
If, however, you fulfill the law of highest excellence, according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well.
9 si autem personas accipitis, peccatum operamini, redarguti a lege quasi transgressores:
But if you show partiality for persons, you work sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 Quicumque autem totam legem servaverit, offendat autem in uno, factus est omnium reus.
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet fail in one, is an offender against all.
11 Qui enim dixit, Non mœchaberis, dixit et, Non occides. Quod si non mœchaberis, occides autem, factus es transgressor legis.
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, though you do not commit adultery, yet, if you kill, you are a transgresssor of law.
12 Sic loquimini, et sic facite sicut per legem libertatis incipientes iudicari.
So speak, and so act, as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 Iudicium enim sine misericordia illi, qui non fecit misericordiam: superexaltat autem misericordia iudicium.
For he shall have judgment without mercy, who has shown no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.
14 Quid proderit fratres mei si fidem quis dicat se habere, opera autem non habeat? Numquid poterit fides salvare eum?
What profit is there, my brethren, if any one say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
15 Si autem frater, et soror nudi sint, et indigeant victu quotidiano,
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 dicat autem aliquis ex vobis illis: Ite in pace, calefacimini et saturamini: non dederitis autem eis, quæ necessaria sunt corpori, quid proderit?
and any of you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet give them not the things that are needful for the body, what does this profit them?
17 Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in semetipsa.
So, also, faith, if it has not works, is dead, being by itself.
18 Sed dicet quis: Tu fidem habes, et ego opera habeo. Ostende mihi fidem tuam sine operibus: et ego ostendam tibi ex operibus fidem meam.
But some one will say, You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith by your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 Tu credis quoniam unus est Deus: Bene facis: et dæmones credunt, et contremiscunt.
You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.
20 Vis autem scire o homo inanis, quoniam fides sine operibus mortua est?
But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Abraham pater noster nonne ex operibus iustificatus est, offerens Isaac filium suum super altare?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 Vides quoniam fides cooperabatur operibus illius: et ex operibus fides consummata est?
Do you see that faith was the moving principle in his works, and by works his faith was made perfect?
23 Et suppleta est Scriptura, dicens: Credidit Abraham Deo, et reputatum est illi ad iustitiam, et amicus Dei appellatus est.
And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.
24 Videtis quoniam ex operibus iustificatur homo, et non ex fide tantum?
Do you see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only?
25 Similiter et Rahab meretrix, nonne ex operibus iustificata est, suscipiens nuncios, et alia via eiiciens?
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
26 Sicut enim corpus sine spiritu mortuum est, ita et fides sine operibus mortua est.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
