Iacobi 2
1 fratres mei nolite in personarum acceptione habere fidem Domini nostri Iesu Christi gloriae
MY brethren, hold not the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus shewing a respect for persons.
2 etenim si introierit in conventu vestro vir aureum anulum habens in veste candida introierit autem et pauper in sordido habitu
For if there come into your congregation a man with a gold ring, and in splendid apparel, and there come in also a poor man in a sordid garb;
3 et intendatis in eum qui indutus est veste praeclara et dixeritis tu sede hic bene pauperi autem dicatis tu sta illic aut sede sub scabillo pedum meorum
and ye fix your eyes upon him who bears the splendid robe, and say to him, Sit thou here in an honourable place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 nonne iudicatis apud vosmet ipsos et facti estis iudices cogitationum iniquarum
are you not thus partial among yourselves, and form your decision from bad reasonings?
5 audite fratres mei dilectissimi nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo divites in fide et heredes regni quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se
Hear me, my beloved brethren. Hath not God elected the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to those who love him;
6 vos autem exhonorastis pauperem nonne divites per potentiam opprimunt vos et ipsi trahunt vos ad iudicia
but ye have put contempt on the poor man? Do not the rich men tyrannize over you? and they drag you to the tribunals.
7 nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen quod invocatum est super vos
Do they not blaspheme that honourable name by which ye are called?
8 si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum scripturas diliges proximum tuum sicut te ipsum bene facitis
If indeed ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 si autem personas accipitis peccatum operamini redarguti a lege quasi transgressores
but if ye have respect of 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 whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offendeth in a single particular, he is chargeable with the breach of all.
11 qui enim dixit non moechaberis dixit et non occides quod si non moechaberis occides autem factus es transgressor legis
For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not commit murder. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, yet dost commit murder, thou art a transgressor of the 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 superexultat autem misericordia iudicio
For judgment without mercy shall be on him who shewed no mercy, and 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 is the advantage, my brethren, if a man profess to have faith, but hath not works; can faith save him?
15 si autem frater aut soror nudi sunt et indigent victu cotidiano
Now if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 dicat autem aliquis de vobis illis ite in pace calefacimini et saturamini non dederitis autem eis quae necessaria sunt corporis quid proderit
and should one of you say to them, Go in peace, be warm, be replenished with food: yet if ye give them not the necessaries for their body; what doth it avail?
17 sic et fides si non habeat opera mortua est in semet ipsam
So also faith, if it hath not works, is dead 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
Perhaps a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith by thy works, and I will shew thee by my works my faith.
19 tu credis quoniam unus est Deus bene facis et daemones credunt et contremescunt
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.
20 vis autem scire o homo inanis quoniam fides sine operibus otiosa est
But wilt thou 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 our father Abraham justified by works, when he offered up 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 consummated.
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 imputed to him for righteousness;” and he was called “the friend of God.”
24 videtis quoniam ex operibus iustificatur homo et non ex fide tantum
Observe therefore that by works a man is justified, and not by faith merely.
25 similiter autem et Raab meretrix nonne ex operibus iustificata est suscipiens nuntios et alia via eiciens
But was not Rahab the harlot in like manner justified by works, when she entertained the messengers, and sent them away by a different road?
26 sicut enim corpus sine spiritu emortuum est ita et fides sine operibus mortua est
For as the body without breath is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
