ⲒⲀⲔⲰⲂⲞⲤ 1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the twelve tribes that are living abroad.
My friends, whatever trials you may face from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing,
knowing, as you do, that the testing of your faith develops endurance.
4 ⲇ̅ ϯϩⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲉ ⲟⲩϩⲱⲃ ⲉϥϫⲏⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϣⲱⲡⲓ ⳿ⲛϧⲏⲧⲥ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲏⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲟϫ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲟⲣϩ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲗⲓ ⲁⲛ.
And let endurance do its work perfectly, so that you may be altogether perfect, and in no respect lacking.
5 ⲉ̅ ⲓⲥϫⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲉϥϫⲟⲣϩ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲥⲃⲱ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲉⲣⲉⲧⲓⲛ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲛ ⲫϯ ⲫⲏⲉⲧϯ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲁⲡⲗⲱⲥ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϥϣⲱϣϥ ⲁⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲩ⳿ⲉϯ ⲛⲁϥ.
If any one of you lacks wisdom, they should ask wisdom from the God who gives freely to everyone without reproach, and it will be given to them.
6 ⲋ̅ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲉⲣⲉⲧⲓⲛ ⲇⲉ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲁϩϯ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲃ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲫⲏ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲃ̅ ⲁϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⳿ⲛⲛⲓϫⲟⲗ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲉⲣⲉ ⳿ⲡⲑⲏⲟⲩ ϭⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉϥ⳿ⲓⲛⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲟⲩ.
But they should ask with confidence, never doubting; for the person who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven here and there at the mercy of the wind –
Such a person must not expect that they will receive anything from the Lord,
vacillating as they are, irresolute at every turn.
Let a follower in humble circumstances be proud of their exalted position,
but a rich follower of their humiliation; for the rich will pass away like a wild flower.
11 ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⲁϥϣⲁⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⳿ⲫⲣⲏ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲕⲁⲩⲥⲱⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁϥ⳿ⲧϣⲟⲩⲓ⳿ⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲱⲟⲩⲃⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲧⲉϥ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲣⲓ ⲁⲥϥⲟⲣϥⲉⲣ ⳿ⲡⲥⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥϩⲟ ⲁϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ϩⲱϥ ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲙⲁ⳿ⲟ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲱⲓⲧ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⳿ϥⲛⲁⲗⲱⲙ.
As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, the plant withers, its flower fades, and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich. In the midst of their pursuits they will wither away.
12 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲫⲏⲉⲑⲛⲁ⳿ⲁⲙⲟⲛⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲟⲧϥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁϥϣⲁⲛⲉⲣ ⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲡ ⳿ϥⲛⲁϭⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓ⳿ⲭⲗⲟⲙ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲡⲱⲛϧ ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲁϥⲱϣ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲛⲛⲏⲉⲑⲛⲁⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧϥ.
Blessed is the person who remains firm under temptation, for, when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲛ⳿ⲑⲣⲉ ⳿ϩⲗⲓ ϫⲟⲥ ⲉⲩⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲫϯ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲫϯ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ϥⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⲁⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ϩⲁⲛⲡⲉⲧϩⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ϥⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲗⲓ ⲁⲛ.
Let no one say, when they are tempted, ‘It is God who is tempting me!’ For God, who cannot be tempted to do wrong, does not himself tempt anyone.
14 ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲉⲩⲉⲣⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⳿ⲙⲙⲓⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲥⲥⲱⲕ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲥⲥⲟⲡⲥⲉⲡ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ.
A man is in every case tempted by their own passions – allured and enticed by them.
Then passion conceives and gives birth to sin, and sin, on reaching maturity, brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my dear friends.
17 ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ ⲧⲁⲓⲟ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲉⲑⲛⲁⲛⲉⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲇⲱⲣⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲉⲧϫⲏⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁⲛ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲡϣⲱⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲉⲩⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲫⲓⲱⲧ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲉ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ϣⲓⲃϯ ⲛⲁϩⲣⲁϥ ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲟⲩ⳿ⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲟⲩϧⲏⲓⲃⲓ ⳿ⲉⲁⲥⲥⲓⲛⲓ.
Every good thing given us, and every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down to us from the Father of the lights in the heavens, who is himself never subject to change or to eclipse.
Because he so willed, he gave us life, through the message of the truth, so that we should be, as it were, a kind of first fruits of his creation.
19 ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ ⲧⲉⲛⲥⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲛⲣⲁϯ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲉϥⲓⲏⲥ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲉϥϩⲟⲣϣ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲉϥ⳿ϩⲣⲟϣ ⲉϥⲛⲁϫⲱⲛⲧ.
Mark this, my dear friends – Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry;
for human anger does not forward the righteous purpose of God.
21 ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉⲑⲃⲉⲫⲁⲓ ⲭⲁ ⲑⲱⲗⲉⲃ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉ⳿ϧⲣⲏⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ⳿ⲡϩⲟⲩ⳿ⲟ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲕⲁⲕⲓⲁ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉⲙⲣⲁⲩϣ ϣⲉⲡ ⲡⲓⲥⲁϫⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⲉϥⲣⲏⲧ ⳿ⲙⲃⲉⲣⲓ ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⳿ϣϫⲟⲙ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲉⲛⲟϩⲉⲙ ⳿ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏ.
Therefore, get rid of all filthiness and whatever wickedness still remains, and in a humble spirit receive that message which has been planted in your hearts and is able to save your souls.
22 ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ ϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲣⲉϥ⳿ⲓⲣⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲣⲉϥϭⲓ⳿ⲥⲙⲏ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ ⲁⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲉⲣϩⲁⲗ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ.
Put that message into practice, and do not merely listen to it – deceiving yourselves.
23 ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉϥϭⲓ⳿ⲥⲙⲏ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲁϥⲟⲛⲓ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⳿ⲉⲁϥϯ⳿ⲛⲓⲁⲧϥ ⳿ⲙ⳿ⲡϩⲟ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉϥϫⲓⲛⲙⲓⲥⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲓⲁⲗ.
For, when anyone listens to it and does not practice it, they are like a person looking at their own face in a mirror.
They look at themselves, then go on their way,
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲫⲏ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲁϥⲥⲟⲙⲥ ⳿ⲥ⳿ⲫⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϫⲏⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲛϯⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉⲙϩⲉ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉϥⲟϩⲓ ⳿ⲛϧⲏⲧϥ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁϥⲉⲣⲣⲉϥϭⲓ⳿ⲥⲙⲏ ⳿ⲛⲣⲉϥⲉⲣ⳿ⲡⲱⲃϣ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⳿ⲛⲣⲉϥ⳿ⲓⲣⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓϩⲱⲃ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉϥ⳿ⲉⲉⲣ ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲉϥ⳿ⲓⲣⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ.
but the person who looks carefully into the perfect Law, the Law of freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into practice – that person will be blessed in what they do.
26 ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ ⲫⲏ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲑⲩⲙⲉⲩⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϥϭⲓⲭⲁⲗⲓⲛⲟⲩⲥ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲁϥⲉⲣϩⲁⲗ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲟⲩⲉⲫⲗⲏⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲡϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⳿ⲙⲫⲁⲓ.
When a person appears to be religious, yet does not bridle their tongue, but imposes on their own conscience, that person’s religious observances are valueless.
27 ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ ⲡⲓϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲁⲧⲑⲱⲗⲉⲃ ϧⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⲫϯ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲫⲓⲱⲧ ⲫⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲉϫⲉⲙ⳿ⲡϣⲓⲛⲓ ⳿ⲛⲛⲓⲟⲣⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲓⲭⲏⲣⲁ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϧⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲟⲩϩⲟϫϩⲉϫ ⳿ⲉⲁⲣⲉϩ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲁⲧⲁϭ ⲛⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁ ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ
That religious observance which is pure and spotless in the eyes of God our Father is this – to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world.
