Epistola Jacobi

Agite nunc divites, plorate ululantes in miseriis vestris, quæ advenient vobis.

Go to now, ye rich men: weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you.

Age nunc divite, plora ululor in miserias vestro, que advenie ad vos.

Divitiæ vestræ putrefactæ sunt, et vestimenta vestra a tineis comesta sunt.

Your riches are corrupted: and your garments are motheaten.

Fivitias vestro putrefacie es, et vestimentos vestro ab tineas comesto es.

Aurum et argentum vestrum æruginavit: et ærugo eorum in testimonium vobis erit, et manducabit carnes vestras sicut ignis. Thesaurizastis vobis iram in novissimis diebus.

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.

Auro et argento vestro aerugina: et aerugo de illos in testimonio ad vos es, et manduca carnes vestro sicut igni. Thesauriza ad vos ira in novissimo dies.

Ecce merces operariorum, qui messuerunt regiones vestras, quæ fraudata est a vobis, clamat: et clamor eorum in aures Domini sabbaoth introivit.

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.

Ecce mercede de operarios, qui mesga regiones vestro, que frauda es ab vos, clama: et clamore de illos in aures de Domino de sabbaoth introi.

Epulati estis super terram, et in luxuriis enutristis corda vestra in die occisionis.

You have feasted upon earth: and in riotousness you have nourished your hearts, in the day of slaughter.

Epulato es super terra, et in luxurias enutra cordes vestro in die de occisione.

Addixistis, et occidistis justum, et non restitit vobis.

You have condemned and put to death the Just One: and he resisted you not.

Addice, et occide iusto, et non resta ad vos.

Patientes igitur estote, fratres, usque ad adventum Domini. Ecce agricola exspectat pretiosum fructum terræ, patienter ferens donec accipiat temporaneum et serotinum.

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.

Pate ergo es, fratres, usque ad adventu de Domino. Ecce agricola expecta pretioso fructu de terra, patienter ferente usque que accipe temporaneo et serotino.

Patientes igitur estote et vos, et confirmate corda vestra: quoniam adventus Domini appropinquavit.

Be you therefore also patient and strengthen your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Pate ergo es et vos, et confirma cordes vestro: quia adventu de Domino appropinqua.

Nolite ingemiscere, fratres, in alterutrum, ut non judicemini. Ecce judex ante januam assistit.

Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge standeth before the door.

Ne vol ingemisce, fratres, in alterutra, ut non iudica. Ecce iudice ante ianua assiste.

Exemplum accipite, fratres, exitus mali, laboris, et patientiæ, prophetas qui locuti sunt in nomine Domini.

Take, my brethren, for example of suffering evil, of labour and patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Exemplo accipe, fratres, exitus malo, de labore, et de patientia, prophetas qui loque es in nomine de Domino.

Ecce beatificamus eos qui sustinuerunt. Sufferentiam Job audistis, et finem Domini vidistis, quoniam misericors Dominus est, et miserator.

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.

Ecce beatificor illos qui sustine. Sufferentia de Iobe audi, et fine de Domino vide, quia miserico Domino es, et miseratore.

Ante omnia autem, fratres mei, nolite jurare, neque per cælum, neque per terram, neque aliud quodcumque juramentum. Sit autem sermo vester: Est, est: Non, non: ut non sub judicio decidatis.

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.

Ante omni autem, fratres meo, ne vol iura, neque per caelo, neque per terra, neque alio omni iuramento. Sermone autem vestro es: es, es: non, non: ut non sub iudicio decide.

Tristatur aliquis vestrum? oret. Æquo animo est? psallat.

Is any of you sad? Let him pray: Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing.

Aliquo vestro trista? Ora. Aequo animo es? Psalle.

Infirmatur quis in vobis? inducat presbyteros ecclesiæ, et orent super eum, ungentes eum oleo in nomine Domini:

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.

Qui in vos infirma? Induce presbyteros de ecclesia, et ora super illo, unge illo oleo in nomine de Domino:

et oratio fidei salvabit infirmum, et alleviabit eum Dominus: et si in peccatis sit, remittentur ei.

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.

Et oratione de fide salva infirmiori, et Domino allevia illo: et si in peccatos es, remitte ad illo.

Confitemini ergo alterutrum peccata vestra, et orate pro invicem ut salvemini: multum enim valet deprecatio justi assidua.

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.

Confite ergo alterutra peccatos vestro, et ora pro invicem ut salve: multo nam deprecatione iusto vale assiduo.

Elias homo erat similis nobis passibilis: et oratione oravit ut non plueret super terram, et non pluit annos tres, et menses sex.

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.

Eliase homine es simili ad nos passibile: et oratione ora ut non plue super terra, et non plue annos tre, et menses sexu.

Et rursum oravit: et cælum dedit pluviam, et terra dedit fructum suum.

And he prayed again. And the heaven gave rain: and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Et iterum ora: et caelo da pluvia, et terra da fructu suo.

Fratres mei, si quis ex vobis erraverit a veritate, et converterit quis eum:

My brethren, if any of you err from the truth and one convert him:

Fratres meo, si qui ex vos erra ab veritate, et converte qui illo:

scire debet quoniam qui converti fecerit peccatorem ab errore viæ suæ, salvabit animam ejus a morte, et operiet multitudinem peccatorum.

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.

Scire debe quia qui converte fac peccatore ab errore de via suo, salva anima de illo ab morte, et operi multitudine de peccatos.