Iacobi 1
1 Jacobus, Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi servus, duodecim tribubus, quæ sunt in dispersione, salutem.
James, of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ a servant, to the Twelve Tribes who are in the dispersion: Hail!
2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:
All joy count [it], my brethren, when ye may fall into temptations manifold;
3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestræ patientiam operatur.
knowing that the proof of your faith doth work endurance,
4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.
and let the endurance have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire — in nothing lacking;
5 Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat: et dabitur ei.
and if any of you do lack wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all liberally, and not reproaching, and it shall be given to him;
6 Postulet autem in fide nihil hæsitans: qui enim hæsitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur et circumfertur:
and let him ask in faith, nothing doubting, for he who is doubting hath been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed,
7 non ergo æstimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.
for let not that man suppose that he shall receive anything from the Lord —
8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.
a two-souled man [is] unstable in all his ways.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:
And let the brother who is low rejoice in his exaltation,
10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos fœni transibit;
and the rich in his becoming low, because as a flower of grass he shall pass away;
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 did rise with the burning heat, and did wither the grass, and the flower of it fell, and the grace of its appearance did perish, so also the rich in his way shall fade away!
12 Beatus vir qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitæ, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
Happy the man who doth endure temptation, because, becoming approved, he shall receive the crown of the life, which the Lord did promise to those loving Him.
13 Nemo cum tentatur, dicat quoniam a Deo tentatur: Deus enim intentator malorum est: ipse autem neminem tentat.
Let no one say, being tempted — 'From God I am tempted,' for God is not tempted of evil, and Himself doth tempt no one,
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.
and each one is tempted, by his own desires being led away and enticed,
15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
afterward the desire having conceived, doth give birth to sin, and the sin having been perfected, doth bring forth death.
16 Nolite itaque errare, fratres mei dilectissimi.
Be not led astray, my brethren beloved;
17 Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.
every good giving, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom is no variation, or shadow of turning;
18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturæ ejus.
having counselled, He did beget us with a word of truth, for our being a certain first-fruit of His creatures.
19 Scitis, fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.
So then, my brethren beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
20 Ira enim viri justitiam Dei non operatur.
for the wrath of a man the righteousness of God doth not work;
21 Propter quod abjicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiæ, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls;
22 Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.
and become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,
23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor, hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suæ in speculo:
because, if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one hath been like to a man viewing his natural face in a mirror,
24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
for he did view himself, and hath gone away, and immediately he did forget of what kind 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.
and he who did look into the perfect law — that of liberty, and did continue there, this one — not a forgetful hearer becoming, but a doer of work — this one shall be happy in his doing.
26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, hujus vana est religio.
If any one doth think to be religious among you, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, of this one vain [is] the religion;
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.
religion pure and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation — unspotted to keep himself from the world.
