James 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.

10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.

14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.

15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

19 So then, my beloved brothers, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

23 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,

24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone among you considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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

2 ¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13 ¶ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

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

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.

1 James, a servant of GOD, and of the LORD JEsu Christ, to the twelve generations which are to and fro: Rejoice ye first.

2 My brethren, count it joy when ye fall into many temptations,

3 And know that your faith, if it be righteous, worketh patience.

4 But patience shall stand firm unto the end, that ye may be perfect and entire, and not lacking.

5 But if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to every man understandingly, and putteth it on none: and it shall be given him.

6 But pray in faith, doubting not: for he that doubteth is like unto the wave of the sea, which is tossed and waved with the wind.

7 Such a man thinketh not that he shall receive any thing of the LORD.

8 A doubter is fickle in all his ways.

9 But let a brother that is lowly glory in his high estate,

10 And let him that is rich glory in his lowliness: for as a flower of grass he shall perish.

11 The sun riseth with the heat, and the grass withereth, and the flower falleth, and his fair form is spoiled: so shall the rich man wither in his substance.

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

13 Let no man say, when he is tempted, that he is tempted of God: for God is not a tempter of evil; he tempteth no man:

14 But every man is tempted when he is provoked and enticed of his own lusts.

15 After that, when lust hath conceived, it begetteth sin: but sin, when it is finished, beareth death.

16 Be not deceived, brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, even from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation, nor change of light and darkness.

18 He begat us according to his will by the word of truth, that we should be the firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, brethren, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath;

20 For the wrath of man does not do what is right in the sight of God.

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and all wickedness, and receive with meekness the word which is planted in you, which is able to save your souls].

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, that ye may deceive yourselves.

23 For if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his bodily face in a mirror;

24 For after he hath looked, he departeth from that hour, and forgetteth how he was fashioned.

25 But he that looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer, the same shall be blessed in his deed.

26 But if any man among you think that he serveeth God, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his heart, his service is vain.

27 a pure and undefiled service before GOD the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world].