James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the twelve tribes that are living abroad.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
My friends, whatever trials you may face from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
knowing, as you do, that the testing of your faith develops endurance.
4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
And let endurance do its work perfectly, so that you may be altogether perfect, and in no respect lacking.
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.
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 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.
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 –
7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Such a person must not expect that they will receive anything from the Lord,
8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
vacillating as they are, irresolute at every turn.
9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
Let a follower in humble circumstances be proud of their exalted 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.
but a rich follower of their humiliation; for the rich will pass away like a wild flower.
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.
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 Blessed 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.
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 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
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 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
A man is in every case tempted by their own passions – allured and enticed by them.
15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Then passion conceives and gives birth to sin, and sin, on reaching maturity, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Do not be deceived, my dear friends.
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.
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.
18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
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 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
Mark this, my dear friends – Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry;
20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
for human anger does not forward the righteous purpose of God.
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.
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 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
Put that message into practice, and do not merely listen to it – 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,
For, when anyone listens to it and does not practice it, they are like a person looking at their own face in a mirror.
24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
They look at themselves, then go on their way,
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.
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 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
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 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.
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.
