Lettera di Giacomo 1

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Iacobus, Dei et Domini Iesu Christi servus, duodecim tribu bus, quae suntin dispersione, salutem.	1 From James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes of theDispersion.
2 Omne gaudium existimate, fratres mei, cum in tentationibus variis incideritis,	2 My brothers, consider it a great joy when trials of many kinds come upon you,
3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestrae patientiam operatur;	3 for you wel know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, and
4 patientia autemopus perfectum habeat, ut sitis perfecti et integri, in nullo deficientes.	4 perseverance must complete its work so that you wil become ful y developed, complete, not deficient inany way.
5 Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibusaffluenter et non improperat, et dabitur ei.	5 Any of you who lacks wisdom must ask God, who gives to al generously and without scolding; it wil begiven.
6 Postulet autem in fide nihilhaesitans; qui enim haesitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur etcircumfertur.	6 But the prayer must be made with faith, and no trace of doubt, because a person who has doubts is likethe waves thrown up in the sea by the buffeting of the wind.
7 Non ergo aestimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino,	7 That sort of person, in two minds,
8 vir duplex animo, inconstans in omnibus viis suis.	8 inconsistent in every activity, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua,	9 It is right that the brother in humble circumstances should glory in being lifted up,
10 dives autem inhumilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos feni transibit.	10 and the rich in being brought low. For the rich wil last no longer than the wild flower;
11 Exortus est enim sol cumardore et arefecit fenum, et flos eius decidit, et decor vultus eius deperiit;ita et dives in itineribus suis marcescet.	11 the scorching sun comes up, and the grass withers, its flower falls, its beauty is lost. It is the samewith the rich: in the middle of a busy life, the rich wil wither.
12 Beatus vir, qui sufferttentationem, quia, cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae, quam repromisitDeus diligentibus se.	12 Blessed is anyone who perseveres when trials come. Such a person is of proven worth and will winthe prize of life, the crown that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 Nemo, cum tentatur, dicat: “ A Deo tentor ”; Deus enim non tentaturmalis, ipse autem neminem tentat.	13 Never, when you are being put to the test, say, 'God is tempting me'; God cannot be tempted by evil,and he does not put anybody to the test .
14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentiasua abstractus et illectus;	14 Everyone is put to the test by being attracted and seduced by that person's own wrong desire.
15 dein concupiscentia, cum conceperit, paritpeccatum; peccatum vero, cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.	15 Then the desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and when sin reaches ful growth, it gives birth todeath.
16 Nolite errare, fratres mei dilectissimi.	16 Make no mistake about this, my dear brothers:
17 Omne datum optimum et omne donumperfectum de sursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non esttransmutatio nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.	17 al that is good, al that is perfect, is given us from above; it comes down from the Father of al light;with him there is no such thing as alteration, no shadow caused by change.
18 Voluntarie genuit nos verboveritatis, ut simus primitiae quaedam creaturae eius.	18 By his own choice he gave birth to us by the message of the truth so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all his creation.
19 Scitis, fratres meidilecti. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum, tardus autem ad loquendum ettardus ad iram;	19 Remember this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow tohuman anger;
20 ira enim viri iustitiam Dei non operatur.	20 God's saving justice is never served by human anger;
21 Propter quodabicientes omnem immunditiam et abundantiam malitiae, in mansuetudine suscipiteinsitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.	21 so do away with al impurities and remnants of evil. Humbly welcome the Word which has beenplanted in you and can save your souls.
22 Estote autem factoresverbi et non auditores tantum fallentes vosmetipsos.	22 But you must do what the Word tel s you and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves.
23 Quia si quis auditor estverbi et non factor, hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suaein speculo;	23 Anyone who listens to the Word and takes no action is like someone who looks at his own features ina mirror and,
24 consideravit enim se et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualisfuerit.	24 once he has seen what he looks like, goes off and immediately forgets it.
25 Qui autem perspexerit in lege perfecta libertatis et permanserit, nonauditor obliviosus factus sed factor operis, hic beatus in facto suo erit.	25 But anyone who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and keeps to it -- not listening andforgetting, but putting it into practice -- will be blessed in every undertaking.
26 Si quis putat se religiosum esse, non freno circumducens linguam suam sedseducens cor suum, huius vana est religio.	26 Nobody who fails to keep a tight rein on the tongue can claim to be religious; this is mere self-deception; that person's religion is worthless.
27 Religio munda et immaculata apudDeum et Patrem haec est: visitare pupillos et viduas in tribulatione eorum,immaculatum se custodire ab hoc saeculo.	27 Pure, unspoilt religion, in the eyes of God our Father, is this: coming to the help of orphans andwidows in their hardships, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world.