1:1 Jacobus, Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi servus, duodecim tribubus, quæ sunt in dispersione, salutem.

1:1 James, the servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

1:2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis :

1:2 My brethren, count it all joy, when you shall fall into divers temptations:

1:3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestræ patientiam operatur.

1:3 Knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

1:4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet : ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.

1:4 And patience hath a perfect work: that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.

1:5 Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat : et dabitur ei.

1:5 But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men abundantly and upbraideth not. And it shall be given him.

1:6 Postulet autem in fide nihil hæsitans : qui enim hæsitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur et circumfertur :

1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind.

1:7 non ergo æstimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.

1:7 Therefore let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

1:8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.

1:8 A double minded man is inconstant in all his ways.

1:9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua :

1:9 But let the brother of low condition glory in his exaltation:

1:10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos fœni transibit ;

1:10 And the rich, in his being low: because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away.

1:11 exortus est enim sol cum ardore, et arefecit fœnum, et flos ejus decidit, et decor vultus ejus deperiit : ita et dives in itineribus suis marcescet.

1:11 For the sun rose with a burning heat and parched the grass: and the flower thereof fell off, and the beauty of the shape thereof perished. So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

1:12 Beatus vir qui suffert tentationem : quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitæ, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.

1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for, when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which God hath promised to them that love him.

1:13 Nemo cum tentatur, dicat quoniam a Deo tentatur : Deus enim intentator malorum est : ipse autem neminem tentat.

1:13 Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils: and he tempteth no man.

1:14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.

1:14 But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured.

1:15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum : peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.

1:15 Then, when concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death.

1:16 Nolite itaque errare, fratres mei dilectissimi.

1:16 Do not err, therefore, my dearest brethren.

1:17 Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.

1:17 Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration.

1:18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturæ ejus.

1:18 For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creature.

1:19 Scitis, fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum : tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.

1:19 You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak and slow to anger.

1:20 Ira enim viri justitiam Dei non operatur.

1:20 For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God.

1:21 Propter quod abjicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiæ, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.

1:21 Wherefore, casting away all uncleanness and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

1:22 Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum : fallentes vosmetipsos.

1:22 But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

1:23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor, hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suæ in speculo :

1:23 For if a man be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass.

1:24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.

1:24 For he beheld himself and went his way and presently forgot what manner of man he was.

1:25 Qui autem perspexerit in legem perfectam libertatis, et permanserit in ea, non auditor obliviosus factus, sed factor operis : hic beatus in facto suo erit.

1:25 But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work: this man shall be blessed in his deed.

1:26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, hujus vana est religio.

1:26 And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

1:27 Religio munda et immaculata apud Deum et Patrem, hæc est : visitare pupillos et viduas in tribulatione eorum, et immaculatum se custodire ab hoc sæculo.

1:27 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.