Epistula Iacobi, 1
1. Iacobus, Dei et Domini Iesu Christi servus, duodecim tribu bus, quae sunt in dispersione, salutem.
1. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greeting.
2. Omne gaudium existimate, fratres mei, cum in tentationibus variis incideritis,
2. Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials,
3. scientes quod probatio fidei vestrae patientiam operatur;
3. for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4. patientia autem opus perfectum habeat, ut sitis perfecti et integri, in nullo deficientes.
4. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5. Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter et non improperat, et dabitur ei.
5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
6. Postulet autem in fide nihil haesitans; qui enim haesitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur et circumfertur.
6. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7. Non ergo aestimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino,
7. (8) For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
8. vir duplex animo, inconstans in omnibus viis suis.
8.
9. Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua,
9. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
10. dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos feni transibit.
10. and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
11. Exortus est enim sol cum ardore et arefecit fenum, et flos eius decidit, et decor vultus eius deperiit; ita et dives in itineribus suis marcescet.
11. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12. Beatus vir, qui suffert tentationem, quia, cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.
12. Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.
13. Nemo, cum tentatur, dicat: “A Deo tentor”; Deus enim non tentatur malis, ipse autem neminem tentat.
13. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one;
14. Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus et illectus;
14. but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
15. dein concupiscentia, cum conceperit, parit peccatum; peccatum vero, cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.
15. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.
16. Nolite errare, fratres mei dilectissimi.
16. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17. Omne datum optimum et omne donum perfectum de sursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.
17. Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
18. Voluntarie genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus primitiae quaedam creaturae eius.
18. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
19. Scitis, fratres mei dilecti. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum, tardus autem ad loquendum et tardus ad iram;
19. Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
20. ira enim viri iustitiam Dei non operatur.
20. for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.
21. Propter quod abicientes omnem immunditiam et abundantiam malitiae, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.
21. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22. Estote autem factores verbi et non auditores tantum fallentes vosmetipsos.
22. But be 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 suae in speculo;
23. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror;
24. consideravit enim se et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.
24. for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
25. Qui autem perspexerit in lege perfecta libertatis et permanserit, non auditor obliviosus factus sed factor operis, hic beatus in facto suo erit.
25. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.
26. Si quis putat se religiosum esse, non freno circumducens linguam suam sed seducens cor suum, huius vana est religio.
26. If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.
27. Religio munda et immaculata apud Deum et Patrem haec est: visitare pupillos et viduas in tribulatione eorum, immaculatum se custodire ab hoc saeculo.
27. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
