James 2
Against respect of persons. The danger of transgressing one point of the law. Faith is dead without works.
Fratres mei, nolite in personarum acceptione habere fidem Domini nostri Jesu Christi gloriæ.
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory, with respect of persons.
Etenim si introierit in conventum vestrum vir aureum annulum habens in veste candida, introierit autem et pauper in sordido habitu,
For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel; and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire:
et intendatis in eum qui indutus est veste præclara, et dixeritis ei: Tu sede hic bene: pauperi autem dicatis: Tu sta illic; aut sede sub scabello pedum meorum:
And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel and shall say to him: Sit thou here well: but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or: Sit under my footstool:
nonne judicatis apud vosmetipsos, et facti estis judices cogitationum iniquarum?
Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?
Audite, fratres mei dilectissimi: nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo, divites in fide, et hæredes regni, quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se?
Hearken, my dearest brethren: Hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?
vos autem exhonorastis pauperem. Nonne divites per potentiam opprimunt vos, et ipsi trahunt vos ad judicia?
But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? And do not they draw you before the judgment seats?
nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen, quod invocatum est super vos?
Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?
Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturas: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum: bene facitis:
If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.
si autem personas accipitis, peccatum operamini, redarguti a lege quasi transgressores.
But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.
Quicumque autem totam legem servaverit, offendat autem in uno, factus est omnium reus.
And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all.
Qui enim dixit: Non mœchaberis, dixit et: Non occides. Quod si non mœchaberis, occides autem, factus es transgressor legis.
For he that said: Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also: Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Sic loquimini, et sic facite sicut per legem libertatis incipientes judicari.
So speak ye and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.
Judicium enim sine misericordia illi qui non fecit misericordiam: superexaltat autem misericordia judicium.
For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.
Quid proderit, fratres mei, si fidem quis dicat se habere, opera autem non habeat? numquid poterit fides salvare eum?
What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?
Si autem frater et soror nudi sint, et indigeant victu quotidiano,
And if a brother or sister be naked and want daily food:
dicat autem aliquis ex vobis illis: Ite in pace, calefacimini et saturamini: non dederitis autem eis quæ necessaria sunt corpori, quid proderit?
And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?
Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in semetipsa.
So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
Sed dicet quis: Tu fidem habes, et ego opera habeo: ostende mihi fidem tuam sine operibus: et ego ostendam tibi ex operibus fidem meam.
But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works. Shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.
Tu credis quoniam unus est Deus: bene facis: et dæmones credunt, et contremiscunt.
Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Vis autem scire, o homo inanis, quoniam fides sine operibus mortua est?
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Abraham pater noster nonne ex operibus justificatus est, offerens Isaac filium suum super altare?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?
Vides quoniam fides cooperabatur operibus illius: et ex operibus fides consummata est?
Seest thou that faith did cooperate with his works and by works faith was made perfect?
Et suppleta est Scriptura, dicens: Credidit Abraham Deo, et reputatum est illi ad justitiam, et amicus Dei appellatus est.
And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.
Videtis quoniam ex operibus justificatur homo, et non ex fide tantum?
Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?
Similiter et Rahab meretrix, nonne ex operibus justificata est, suscipiens nuntios, et alia via ejiciens?
And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers and sending them out another way?
Sicut enim corpus sine spiritu mortuum est, ita et fides sine operibus mortua est.
For even as the body without the spirit is dead: so also faith without works is dead.