James — Chapter 1

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

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

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

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

5Now 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.

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

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

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

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

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

11For 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.

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

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

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

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

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

17Every 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.

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

19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

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

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

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

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

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

25But 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.

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

27Pure 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.

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

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

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

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

5If 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.

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

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

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

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

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

11For 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.

12Blessed 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.

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

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

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

16Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17Every 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.

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

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

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

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

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

23For 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:

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

25But 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.

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

27Pure 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.

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

2Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations;

3Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.

4And let patience have [its] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.

5But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

7For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;

8a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways.

9But let the brother of low degree glory in his high estate:

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

11For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and 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 goings.

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

13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:

14but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

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

16Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

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

19Ye know [this], my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

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

21Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

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

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

24for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25But he that looketh into the perfect law, the [law] of liberty, and [so] continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.

26If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man`s religion is vain.

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

1From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!

2My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials,

3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

5But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

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

7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,

8since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.

9Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position.

10But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.

11For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

12Happy is the one who endures testing because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.

13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

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

15Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.

16Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.

17All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.

18By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.

20For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

21So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

22But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.

23For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror.

24For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.

25But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out—he will be blessed in what he does.

26If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

27Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their adversity and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,

3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

6But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.

7For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

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

9But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;

10and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.

11For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.

12Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

13Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, produces death.

16Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers.

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

18Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

20for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

21Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

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

23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;

24for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

26If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

27Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.