Iacobi 2
1 Fratres mei, nolite in personarum acceptione habere fidem Domini nostri Jesu Christi gloriæ.
My brethren, do not, with respect for persons, be holding the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory.
2 Etenim si introierit in conventum vestrum vir aureum annulum habens in veste candida, introierit autem et pauper in sordido habitu,
For, if there enter into your synagogue a man wearing gold rings in gay clothing, and there enter a destitute man also, in soiled 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 ye eye him that hath on the gay clothing, and say, Thou, be sitting here, pleasantly, —and, unto the destitute man, say—Thou, stand, or sit there under my footstool,
4 nonne judicatis apud vosmetipsos, et facti estis judices cogitationum iniquarum?
Would ye not have been led to make distinctions among yourselves, and have become judges with wicked reasonings?
5 Audite, fratres mei dilectissimi: nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo, divites in fide, et hæredes regni, quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se?
Hearken! my brethren beloved: —Hath not, God, chosen the destitute in the world [to be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 vos autem exhonorastis pauperem. Nonne divites per potentiam opprimunt vos, et ipsi trahunt vos ad judicia?
Whereas, ye, have dishonoured the destitute man! Do not, the rich, oppress you? and, themselves, drag you into courts of justice?
7 nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen, quod invocatum est super vos?
Do not, they, defame the noble name which hath been invoked upon you?
8 Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturas: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum: bene facitis:
If ye are, indeed, fulfilling, a royal law, according to the scripture—Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, nobly, are ye doing;
9 si autem personas accipitis, peccatum operamini, redarguti a lege quasi transgressores.
But, if ye are shewing respect of persons, sin, are ye working, being convicted by the law as transgressors!
10 Quicumque autem totam legem servaverit, offendat autem in uno, factus est omnium reus.
For, a man who shall keep, the whole law, but shall stumble in one thing, hath become, for all things, liable, —
11 Qui enim dixit: Non mœchaberis, dixit et: Non occides. Quod si non mœchaberis, occides autem, factus es transgressor legis.
For, he that hath said—Do not commit adultery, hath also said—Do not commit murder, —now, if thou dost not commit adultery, but dost commit murder, thou hast become a transgressor of law.
12 Sic loquimini, et sic facite sicut per legem libertatis incipientes judicari.
So, be speaking, and, so, doing, as they who, through means of a law of freedom, are about to be judged;
13 Judicium enim sine misericordia illi qui non fecit misericordiam: superexaltat autem misericordia judicium.
For, the judgment, [will be] without mercy, unto him that hath shewed no mercy: Mercy, boasteth, over judgment.
14 Quid proderit, fratres mei, si fidem quis dicat se habere, opera autem non habeat? numquid poterit fides salvare eum?
What profit, my brethren, —if one should be saying he hath, faith, but hath not, works; can his faith save him?
15 Si autem frater et soror nudi sint, et indigeant victu quotidiano,
If, a brother or sister, should be naked, and coming short of the 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 from among you should say unto them—Withdraw in peace, be getting warmed and fed, but should not give them the things needful for the body, What the profit?
17 Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in semetipsa.
So, also, faith, if it have not works, is dead, 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 one will say, —Thou, hast faith, and, I, have works, show me thy faith apart from thy works, and, I, unto thee, will shew, by my works, my faith.
19 Tu credis quoniam unus est Deus: bene facis: et dæmones credunt, et contremiscunt.
Thou believest that God is, one: thou doest, well—Even the demons believe, and shudder!
20 Vis autem scire, o homo inanis, quoniam fides sine operibus mortua est?
But art thou willing to learn, O empty man! that, faith, apart from works, is, idle?
21 Abraham pater noster nonne ex operibus justificatus est, offerens Isaac filium suum super altare?
Abraham our father, was it not, by works, he was declared righteous—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, his faith, had been working together with his works, and by his works did his faith become full-grown, —
23 Et suppleta est Scriptura, dicens: Credidit Abraham Deo, et reputatum est illi ad justitiam, et amicus Dei appellatus est.
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith—And Abraham believed God, And it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and, God’s friend, was he called:
24 Videtis quoniam ex operibus justificatur homo, et non ex fide tantum?
Ye see that—by works, a man is declared righteous, and not by faith alone.
25 Similiter et Rahab meretrix, nonne ex operibus justificata est, suscipiens nuntios, et alia via ejiciens?
And, in like manner also, Rahab the harlot, Was it not, by works, she was declared righteous, when she gave welcome unto the messengers, and, by another way, urged them forth?
26 Sicut enim corpus sine spiritu mortuum est, ita et fides sine operibus mortua est.
Just as, the body, apart from spirit, is dead, so, our faith also, apart from works, is dead.
