Iacobi 4
1 Unde bella, et lites in vobis? Nonne ex concupiscentiis vestris, quae militant in membris vestris?
Whence wars and fightings among you? Do they not come hence, even from your lusts, which war in your members?
2 Concupiscitis, et non habetis: occiditis, et zelatis: et non potestis adipisci: litigatis, et belligeratis, et non habetis, propter quod non postulatis.
You strongly desire, and have not; you kill, and are zealous, and can not obtain. You fight and war, but have not, because you ask not.
3 Petitis, et non accipitis: eo quod male petatis: ut in concupiscentiis vestris insumatis.
You ask, and do not receive, because you ask wickedly, that you may spend upon your lusts.
4 Adulteri nescitis quia amicitia huius mundi, inimica est Dei? Quicumque ergo voluerit amicus esse saeculi huius, inimicus Dei constituitur.
Adulterers, and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity against God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world, is counted an enemy of God.
5 An putatis quia inaniter Scriptura dicat: Ad invidiam concupiscit spiritus, qui habitat in vobis?
Do you think that the scripture speaks in vain? And does the spirit, who dwells in us, strongly incline to envy?
6 Maiorem autem dat gratiam. Propter quod dicit: Deus superbis resistit, humilibus autem dat gratiam.
But he gives greater favor. For it says, "God resists the proud, but gives favor to the humble."
7 Subditi ergo estote Deo, resistite autem diabolo, et fugiet a vobis.
Therefore, be subject to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Appropinquate Deo, et appropinquabit vobis. Emundate manus, peccatores: et purificate corda, duplices animo.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you men of two minds.
9 Miseri estote, et lugete, et plorate: risus vester in luctum convertatur, et gaudium in moerorem.
Be exceedingly afflicted, and mourn, and weep; and let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into sadness.
10 Humiliamini in conspectu Domini, et exaltabit vos.
Be humble in the presence of the Lord, and he will lift you up.
11 Nolite detrahere alterutrum fratres mei. Qui detrahit fratri, aut qui iudicat fratrem suum, detrahit legi, et iudicat legem. Si autem iudicas legem: non es factor legis, sed iudex.
He who speaks against his brother, and condemns his brother, speaks against the law, and condemns the law. But if you condemn the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 Unus est enim legislator, et iudex, qui potest perdere, et liberare.
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save, and to destroy. Who are you, that condemn another?
13 Tu autem quis es, qui iudicas proximum? Ecce nunc qui dicitis: Hodie, aut crastino ibimus in illam civitatem, et faciemus ibi quidem annum, et mercabimur, et lucrum faciemus:
Come, now, you who say, To-day, or to-morrow, we will go to such a city, and will abide there one year, and traffic in merchandise, and get gain;
14 qui ignoratis quid erit in crastinum.
who do not know what shall be to-morrow. For what is your life? It is, indeed, a smoke, which appears for a little while, and then vanishes away.
15 Quae est enim vita vestra? vapor est ad modicum parens, et deinceps exterminabitur; pro eo ut dicatis: Si Dominus voluerit. Et: Si vixerimus, faciemus hoc, aut illud.
Instead of which, you ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 Nunc autem exultatis in superbiis vestris. Omnis exultatio talis, maligna est.
But now you boast in your proud speeches: all such boasting is evil.
17 Scienti igitur bonum facere, et non facienti, peccatum est illi.
Wherefore, to him who know how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.
