Epistula Iacobi, 2

1. Fratres mei, nolite in persona rum acceptione habere fidem Domini nostri Iesu Christi gloriae.

1. My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

2. Etenim, si introierit in synagogam vestram vir aureum anulum habens in veste candida, introierit autem et pauper in sordido habitu,

2. For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,

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 scabello meo”;

3. and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "Have a seat here, please," while you say to the poor man, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet,"

4. nonne iudicatis apud vosmetipsos et facti estis iudices cogitationum iniquarum?

4. have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5. Audite, fratres mei dilectissimi. Nonne Deus elegit, qui pauperes sunt mundo, divites in fide et heredes regni, quod repromisit diligentibus se?

5. Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?

6. Vos autem exhonorastis pauperem. Nonne divites opprimunt vos et ipsi trahunt vos ad iudicia?

6. But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court?

7. Nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen, quod invocatum est super vos?

7. Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name which was invoked over you?

8. Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturam: “Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum”, bene facitis;

8. If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well.

9. si autem personas accipitis, peccatum operamini, redarguti a lege quasi transgressores.

9. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10. Quicumque autem totam legem servaverit, offendat autem in uno, factus est omnium reus.

10. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

11. Qui enim dixit: “Non moechaberis”, dixit et: “Non occides”; quod si non moecharis, occidis autem, factus es transgressor legis.

11. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not kill." If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12. Sic loquimini et sic facite sicut per legem libertatis iudicandi.

12. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

13. Iudicium enim sine misericordia illi, qui non fecit misericordiam; superexsultat misericordia iudicio.

13. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment.

14. Quid proderit, fratres mei, si fidem quis dicat se habere, opera autem non habeat? Numquid poterit fides salvare eum?

14. What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?

15. Si frater aut soror nudi sunt et indigent victu cotidiano,

15. If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack 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?

16. and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?

17. Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in semetipsa.

17. So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

18. Sed dicet quis: “Tu fidem habes, et ego opera habeo”. Ostende mihi fidem tuam sine operibus, et ego tibi ostendam ex operibus meis fidem.

18. But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

19. Tu credis quoniam unus est Deus? Bene facis; et daemones credunt et contremiscunt!

19. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder.

20. Vis autem scire, o homo inanis, quoniam fides sine operibus otiosa est?

20. Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren?

21. Abraham, pater noster, nonne ex operibus iustificatus est offerens Isaac filium suum super altare?

21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?

22. Vides quoniam fides cooperabatur operibus illius, et ex operibus fides consummata est;

22. You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works,

23. et suppleta est Scriptura dicens: “Credidit Abraham Deo, et reputatum est illi ad iustitiam”, et amicus Dei appellatus est.

23. and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God.

24. Videtis quoniam ex operibus iustificatur homo et non ex fide tantum.

24. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

25. Similiter autem et Rahab, meretrix nonne ex operibus iustificata est suscipiens nuntios et alia via eiciens?

25. And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26. Sicut enim corpus sine spiritu emortuum est, ita et fides sine operibus mortua est.

26. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.