Iacobi 2
1 Fratres mei, nolite in personarum acceptione habere fidem Domini nostri Iesu Christi gloriæ.
My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord of glory, Jesus Christ, with respect of 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 come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in splendid apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment,
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 ye have respect to him that weareth the splendid apparel, and say, Sit thou here in a good place, and say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or, Sit under my footstool,
4 nonne iudicatis apud vosmetipsos, et facti estis iudices cogitationum iniquarum?
have ye not been partial among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Audite fratres mei dilectissimi, nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo, divites in fide, et heredes regni, quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se?
Hearken, my beloved brethren. Did not God choose the poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
6 Vos autem exhonorastis pauperem. Nonne divites per potentiam opprimunt vos, et ipsi trahunt vos ad iudicia?
but ye have despised the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do not they drag you before the judgment-seats?
7 Nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen, quod invocatum est super vos?
Do not they blaspheme the worthy name by which ye are called?
8 Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturas: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum: bene facitis:
If indeed ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” ye do well.
9 si autem personas accipitis, peccatum operamini, redarguti a lege quasi transgressores:
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit 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 hath kept the whole law, and yet hath offended in one point, hath become guilty of all.
11 Qui enim dixit, Non mœchaberis, dixit et, Non occides. Quod si non mœchaberis, occides autem, factus es transgressor legis.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” said also, “Do not kill.” Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou hast become a transgressor of the law.
12 Sic loquimini, et sic facite sicut per legem libertatis incipientes iudicari.
So speak, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 Iudicium enim sine misericordia illi, qui non fecit misericordiam: superexaltat autem misericordia iudicium.
For the judgment shall be without mercy to him that showed no mercy. Mercy glorieth against judgment.
14 Quid proderit fratres mei si fidem quis dicat se habere, opera autem non habeat? Numquid poterit fides salvare eum?
What doth it profit, my brethren, if any one say that he hath faith, and have not works? Can his 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 one of you say to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and be filled, notwithstanding ye give them not the things needful for the body, what doth it profit?
17 Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in semetipsa.
So also faith, if it hath not works, is dead in 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, Thou hast faith, and I have works; show me thy faith without works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
19 Tu credis quoniam unus est Deus: Bene facis: et dæmones credunt, et contremiscunt.
Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well; the demons also believe, and tremble.
20 Vis autem scire o homo inanis, quoniam fides sine operibus mortua est?
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is idle?
21 Abraham pater noster nonne ex operibus iustificatus est, offerens Isaac filium suum super altare?
Was not Abraham our father accepted as righteous through works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Vides quoniam fides cooperabatur operibus illius: et ex operibus fides consummata est?
Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith 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 saith, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness;” and he was called the friend of God.
24 Videtis quoniam ex operibus iustificatur homo, et non ex fide tantum?
Ye see that by works a man is accounted as righteous, and not by faith only.
25 Similiter et Rahab meretrix, nonne ex operibus iustificata est, suscipiens nuncios, et alia via eiiciens?
And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot accounted as righteous through works, when she 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 also faith without works is dead.
