Epistula Iacobi, 5
1. age nunc divites plorate ululantes in miseriis quæ advenient vobis
1. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you.
2. divitiæ vestræ putrefactæ sunt et vestimenta vestra a tineis comesta sunt
2. Your riches are corrupted: and your garments are motheaten.
3. aurum et argentum vestrum eruginavit et erugo eorum in testimonium vobis erit et manducabit carnes vestras sicut ignis thesaurizastis in novissimis diebus
3. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up to yourselves wrath against the last days.
4. ecce merces operariorum qui messuerunt regiones vestras qui fraudatus est a vobis clamat et clamor ipsorum in aures Domini Sabaoth introjit
4. Behold the hire of the labourers, who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, crieth: and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5. epulati estis super terram et in luxuriis enutristis corda vestra in die occisionis
5. You have feasted upon earth: and in riotousness you have nourished your hearts, in the day of slaughter.
6. addixistis occidistis justum non resistit vobis
6. You have condemned and put to death the Just One, and he resisted you not.
7. patientes igitur estote fratres usque ad adventum Domini ecce agricola expectat pretiosum fructum terræ patienter ferens donec accipiat temporivum et serotinum
7. Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth: patiently bearing till he receive the early and latter rain.
8. patientes estote et vos confirmate corda vestra quoniam adventus Domini adpropinquavit
8. Be you therefore also patient, and strengthen your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9. nolite ingemescere fratres in alterutrum ut non judicemini ecce judex ante januam adsistit
9. Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge standeth before the door.
10. exemplum accipite fratres laboris et patientiæ prophetas qui locuti sunt in nomine Domini
10. Take, my brethren, for an example of suffering evil, of labour and patience, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11. ecce beatificamus qui sustinuerunt sufferentiam Job audistis et finem Domini vidistis quoniam misericors est Dominus et miserator
11. Behold, we account them blessed who have endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate.
12. ante omnia autem fratres mei nolite jurare neque per cælum neque per terram neque aliud quodcumque juramentum sit autem vestrum est est non non uti non sub judicio decidatis
12. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath. But let your speech be, yea, yea: no, no: that you fall not under judgment.
13. tristatur aliquis vestrum oret æquo animo est psallat
13. Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing.
14. infirmatur quis in vobis inducat presbyteros ecclesiæ et orent super eum unguentes eum oleo in nomine Domini
14. Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15. et oratio fidei salvabit infirmum et adlevabit eum Dominus et si in peccatis sit dimittentur ei
15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16. confitemini ergo alterutrum peccata vestra et orate pro invicem ut salvemini multum enim valet deprecatio justi adsidua
16. Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.
17. Helias homo erat similis nobis passibilis et oratione oravit ut non plueret super terram et non pluit annos tres et menses sex
17. Elias was a man passible like unto us: and with prayer he prayed that it might not rain upon the earth, and it rained not for three years and six months.
18. et rursum oravit et cælum dedit pluviam et terra dedit fructum suum
18. And he prayed again: and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19. fratres mei si quis ex vobis erraverit a veritate et converterit quis eum
19. My brethren, if any of you err from the truth, and one convert him:
20. scire debet quoniam qui converti fecerit peccatorem ab errore viæ suæ salvabit animam ejus a morte et operit multitudinem peccatorum
20. He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.
